Saint Maximos, whose memory the Church honors in January 13, known as Manuel while he was
secular, was born in the city of Lampsako to pious parents who raised him with education and the
admonition of our Lord.
Due to his frequent movements, he burned down his hut in order to practice complete landlessness.
Therefore the name: Kafsokalyvi (burning hut). He fell asleep peacefully in 1365 AD. at the age of 95.
According to the story of the elder Daniel Katounakiotis, the Virgin Mary gave Saint Maximus
Kafsokalivitis the grace to fly.
Elder Daniel Katounakiotis: "Our Elders used to tell us that Saint Maximus lived in the Great Lavra.
He constantly begged the Virgin Mary to give him the "prayer of the heart". To enlighten him, that is,
to pray with the heart, the mental prayer. The Virgin Mary heard his prayers and instructed him to
go to the top of Mount Athos, telling him at the same time: "Come and there I will reveal to you
what is requested"!
Father Maximos once or twice took his walking stick and started. He marched, marched for hours,
six, seven, eight, 10 hours! With one hand he held the staff and with the other pulled his rosary. He
once reached the top. He immediately knelt down and began to pray fervently to Our Lady. He
stayed on his knees, praying for three nights! At one point the Elder felt an indescribable fragrance
and at the same time saw an abundant light flooding him! He was surrounded by uncreated light… In
these shocking circumstances, the Virgin Mary appeared!
Father Maximos covered his face with his palms saying: "Most Holy Theotokos, I am not worthy to
see Your most holy Face." The Virgin spoke to him for a while. The saint of God felt his heart leap
with joy. She, seeing his humiliation, gave him the gift of mental prayer and disappeared in the
brightness in which he had appeared!
The Virgin Mary -apart from the mental prayer- gave him another special grace, to fly! In fact, that
why they call him the bird of Athos
Translated from the Greek source:
https://www.vimaorthodoxias.gr/theologikos-logos-diafora/poios-itan-o-osios-maximos-o-
kaysokalyvitis-poy-timatai-simera/
