On the Origins of the Monastic Worldview of St. Maximus the Greek (On the 550th Anniversary of His Birth)

Abstract

The article analyzes six original works by St. Maxim the Greek, which are joined in the Parisian manuscript collection in a unique way. They all share the theme of monastic life and are composed in the form of answers. It turns out that it was in these works that Maxim the Greek created a special concept of “inner man”. Rather, traces of his personal practice of “prayer of the heart” (Jesus Prayer) can be detected, which bears testimony to his monastic experience and worldview that bring to mind the spiritual ascetic practice of hesychasm. Moreover, the mentioned works of St. Maxim the Greek include essential techniques for creating a literary text, thus reflecting not only his understanding of literary creativity, but also the essence of poetics of St. Maxim the Greek. It is for the first time that these works are examined in such a detail and on the basis of handwritten materials.