MASSIMO, saint, martyr. — A soldier in Antioch together with Gioventino, he was martyred with him at the beginning of 363 on the orders of the emperor Julian, whose apostasy and bitter struggle waged against the Christian religion he had disapproved.
S. Giovanni Crisostomo delivered a discourse in their honor (BHG, 975) before a large audience, composed of many eyewitnesses to the martyrdom, and Teodoreto reports (Hist. eccl., III, 15) the trial and execution of the capital sentence. Feast: 25 January.
P. P., La dute de la fete des sis Iuventin et Maximin, in Anal. Bolland, 42 (1924), pp. 77–82; Martyr. Romanum, pp. 34–35. Emanuele Romanelli
MASSIMO. - A Cynic philosopher of the 4th century. Born in Alexandria to a humble family, he embraced Christianity from a young age and professed philosophy. Ignorant, avaricious, and turbulent, he wandered from city to city to procure his livelihood. His misconduct earned him exiles and condemnations, which he later passed off as sufferings for the faith.
In this way, he managed to deceive many, even St. Gregory Nazianzen, who counted him among his friends and publicly praised him. Through scheming, intrigue, and money, and with the support of the bishop of Alexandria, he succeeded in having himself consecrated bishop of Constantinople, but was driven from the city, reproved by Emperor Theodosius, by Pope Damasus, and deposed by the Council of Constantinople (381). He returned to Alexandria, but since he disturbed that Church, he was sent into exile. He came to Italy and once again managed to deceive the good faith of the Fathers of the Council of Aquileia (381) and even St. Ambrose; but later, his misdeeds having been discovered, he was definitively abandoned.