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==Life==
Apostolos Makrakis was a charismatic lay theologian gifted with many talents and a leader born in 1831 in the village of the ''awakening movement'' in post-revolutionary Katavati on [[w:Sifnos|Sifnos island]], Greece. He finished his secondary school training in his birthplace , and later studied in [[Constantinople]], where he worked for a short time as a teacher and published his first treatises (''Ekpaideutike Enkyklopaedeia''). Being a person of with a strong character and with who was inclined towards a disposition towards vigorous detailed inspection of things, he came to a collision course eventually collided with the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]] and with the parents of his students, on the grounds being of his teaching of frequent [[Eucharist|communion. In 1862 he went to Paris, where he worked as a private tutor, remaining there for two years and learning about modern European philosophy up to Hegel. His defensive disposition was expressed quickly with the writing in French of four treatises against Western (and especially Cartesian) philosophy, and in favour of Christianity. After a brief trip to Athens, he returned in 1865 to Constantinople, where he continued his work for a year, and in 1866 he settled permanently in Athens, where he also reposed]].
Makrakis also preached to large crowds in [[w:PatrasMetropolis of Patra|Patras]], who came out in awe to listen to his "nation-saving" teachings on [[June 18]], [[June 24|24]], [[June 27|27]], and [[July 16]], 1876. According to Traintaphyllu, while preaching in in Patras, Makrakis had as his <ref group="note">His most fervent followers were Theodoros Kapetanon, Ioannis Arnellon, and Nikolaos Christogiannopoulos (1885).</ref><ref>Triantaphyllu, Kostas N. ''Historikon Lexikon Ton Patron. 2. ekd.'' Patrai, 1980.</ref>. After this a number of publications such as ''Achaia'', ''Phoenix'', and ''Aratos'' strongly attacked his teachings, while others other periodicals such as the ''Peloponnesus'' supported him. Defenders of Makrakis included a theologian of Patras named Ieronymos, as well as the spiritual father of Patras, Fr. Athanasios Georgiou, recommending who recommended that he be exiled for two years lest he be judged by the [[Holy Synod (''Triantaphyllu'')|Synod]]. For Makrakis visited Patras for a period of thirty years Makrakis visited Patras, in 1876 remaining there for forty-days preaching to the people. Continuing his quest of preaching to the nation, he arrived on the island of [[Metropolis of Zakynthos and Strofades|Zakynthos]] in July 1892, and again in August 1893, teaching out of exile.<ref group="note">A critic of Makrakis from Zakynthos was the primary school teacher Ioannis Siderokastritis, who wrote ''O Anamorphotis Makrakes (The Uneducated Makrakis).''</ref><ref>Zoes, Leonidas Ch. ''Lexikon Historikon Kai Laographikon Zakynthu.'' Athenai, 1963. Tom. 1.</ref>. In the summer of 1894 he made his tenth and last Gospel tour, visiting Thebes, St. Theodore, Levadeia, Atalante, Chalkis, Kyme, Aliverion, Kariston, Gaurion on the peopleislands of Andros, Syros, and his birthplace Siphnos.<ref>Andronis, Constantine (Ed.). ''Apostolos Makrakis: An Evaluation of Half a Century.'' Chicago: Orthodox Christian Educational Society, 1966 pp.20.</ref>
:"Makrakis intended to be a teacher of the people of Greece,...this child of the [[w:Greek War of Independence|revolution of 1821]]. The [[w:Søren Kierkegaard|Kierkegaard]]<ref group===Legacy "note">'''Kierkegaard, Soren,''' ''b. Copenhagen, Denmark, 1813; d. 1855''. Philosopher and religious writer. He was a precursor of the existentialists and Criticism===In his article a major influence on [http:Protestant theology. He argued that advancing through the three stages of the aesthetic, the ethical and the religious by means of an "existential dialectic" brings the individual closer to God. A leap of faith is required; reason is not a help. But awareness of the relationship to God leads to despair as the individual contrasts temporality with eternal truth. His major works include ''Either//wwwOr'' (1843) and ''Fear and Trembling'' (1843). (''The New York Times Guide to Essential Knowledge''. 1st Ed.. St. Martin's Press, NY, Oct. 2004. pp.aegeantimes1020.gr)</pigizois/agglika/inegl_27ref> who speaks here has a Hellenistic soul.htm The Orthodox Church Philosophy, "the love and Proselytismscience of the [[w:Christ the Logos|God-equal WORD]], or [[w:Christ the Logos|Logos]]", has as its purpose "the acquisition of God's omniscience...and the deification of the Very Revphilosophical investigator". Archimandrite Isaias Simonopetritis writes Its object is the same as that of religion and government. The system traces the journey of the soul in its ascent from the "primary cognition [noein]"while Makrakis was condemned through the philosophical sciences to its deification. The means of ascent are provided by the official Church and "right reason" that is the monasteries object of logic and is incarnate in [[Mount AthosJesus Christ]].....right reason being the nexus between temporal fact and eternal being. In this system, he was not excommunicatedthe primary cognition, for fear that his numerous followers among the middle classes of Athens would turn him into a or what [[martyrw:Phenomenology|phenomenology]] figuremight call the basic intellectual intuition, is that I exist, the world exists, and God exists... His ideas The soul is conscious of its own existence, perceives the world, and knows God's existence, but it does not know the particular pietistic ethos which he promoted survived in nature of each of them. The aim of science is to make the unknown known. Philosophy as [[Brotherhoodsw:Christology|BrotherhoodChristology]] Movements which and Christology as Philosophy, it is at least a theme that makes one think."<ref>Scharlemann, R.P.. Peer Reviewed Book Review of Makrakis': ''The Logos and Holy Spirit in the 20th century played a significant role in education and catechetical schoolsUnity of Christian Thought, 5 Vols: Vol 1:The Orthodox Approach to Philosophy, Vol 2:Psychology An Orthodox Christian Perspective, Vol 3: Logic An Orthodox Christian Approach, but unguardedly allied themselves with right-wing dictatorshipsVol 4: Theology An Orthodox Standpoint, pure Vol 5:Philosophy An Orthodox Christian Understanding.'' Translated from the Greek patriotism being a key element in their ideologyby Denver Cummings: Orthodox Christian Education Society, 1977. '''Journal of Religion''' 59 no 4 O 1979, p 488-490."</ref>
===Controversy===Besides criticizing contemporary [[w:Prelate|prelates]] of [[w:Simony|Simony]], Apostolos Makrakis has also been criticized in a work by upheld the theory of the Blessed Elder [[Philotheos triple constitution of humanity - i.e. ''Psyche'' (soul), ''Pneuma'' (Zervakosspirit)]] entitled , ''The Errors of Apostolos MakrakisSoma''(body) - for which he was criticized, causing some confusion as to whether or not Makrakis was in fact [[Excommunication|excommunicated]] by the Church or not.
As for the [[Holy Synod]], on December 18th, 1878, the [[Council of Athens (1878)|Council of Athens]] was convened and presided over by Metropolitan Bishop [[Procopius I (Georgiadis) of Athens|Procopius I of Athens]] (1874-1889), resulting in the formal condemnation of the Makrakists. The Synod succeeded in obtaining from the governement of [[w:Alexandros Koumoundouros|Koumoundouros]] a decree dissolving Makakris' ''' ''"School of the Logos"'' ''' on the pretext that it taught doctrines opposed to the tenets of the Church, that is, that man is composed of body, soul, and spirit, and that Christ attained perfection in the Jordan. The Holy Synod likewise addressed an encyclical to the whole body of Christians in Greece that was read in the churches, charging Makrakis with attempting to introduce innovations. On January 8, 1879, his trial was held, and without his presence he was condemned by default to three months' imprisonment. On February 6, 1879, the Holy Synod also issued a decree condemning the clergy of the College to confinement (exile) for five to ten years in various monasteries and refrainment from all sacramental acts.
While his message found strong support amongst the masses on the one hand, it was not received very well by the religious establishment, as Dr. Cavarnos, [[Philotheos (Zervakos)|Elder Philotheos]], Professor Yannaras, Professor Conybeare and others have explained. His movement can be viewed as a unique example in the history of the Orthodox Church of a type of proselytism from ''within'' the ranks of Orthodoxy (rather than from without by foreign religious forces). Ultimatelty all of this led to an intense conflict between Makrakis and the Church authorities.
Makrakis' ideas and the particular pietistic ethos which he promoted however did survive him in the [[Brotherhoods|Brotherhood]] Movements, which in the 20th century played a significant role in education and catechetical schools.<ref group="note">These however unguardedly allied themselves with right-wing dictatorships, pure Greek patriotism being a key element in their ideology.</ref><ref>Simonopetritis, Very Rev. Archiman. Isaias. "[http://www.aegeantimes.gr/pigizois/agglika/inegl_27.htm The Orthodox Church and Proselytism]." ''Orthodox Herald'', Official Publication of the Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain, September–October 2001, No. 120-121.</ref>
==Sources and External linksCriticisms==* British Orientalist and Professor of Theology at the University of Oxford [[w:Frederick Cornwallis Conybeare|Frederick Cornwallis Conybeare]], a contemporary of Makrakis writing in 1903, proposed that if we cut through the many mists of spiteful exaggeration often attributed to Makrakis' life story, ::we can discern that his teaching exactly agrees with that ascribed to the [[w:Ebionites|Ebionites]] and to [[w:Theodotus of Byzantium|Theodotus of Rome]] by [[Hippolytus of Rome]] in his ''[[w:Refutation of all Heresies|Philosophumena]] (Refutation of all Heresies)'', Book VII, chap. 34. A not very dissimilar form of [[Adoptionism|Adoptionist doctrine]] still survives among the dissenters of Russia and of Armenia, and I suspect that Makrakis had come into contact with them.<ref>*[[w:Frederick Cornwallis Conybeare|Conybeare, Frederick Cornwallis]]. Reviewed Works: ''The Student's History of the Greek Church'' by Rev. A.H. Hore (M.A.). London and Oxford: James Parker, 1902. 514 pp.; ''Geschichte der Orientalischen Kirchen von 1453-1898'' by Prof. A. Diomedes Kyriakos. Leipzig, 1902. '''American Journal of Theology, Vol.7, No,3 (July 1903). p.562.'''</ref>.
* MaloneyDr. Constantine Cavarnos although referring to Makrakis as "perhaps the most outstanding philosopher and religious teacher of modern Greece," in reviewing Makrakis' important treatise on [[Soteriology]], George Athe ''"Divine and Sacred Catechism"'', states that Makrakis' teaching is marred by the exaggerated importance he attributes to the Devil, by his narrow conception of Orthodoxy, and his invective against other religious denominations.<ref name=Cavarnos>Cavarnos, SConstantine (Dr).JReviewed Work: ''Divine and Sacred Catechism by Apostolos Makrakis''. Transl. from the Greek by the Hellenic Christian Society, Chicago, Illinois. New York: Cosmos Greek-American Printing Co., 1946. ''A History 'Journal of Orthodox Theology Since 1453the American Academy of Religion'''. Norland Publishing, Massachusetts, 19761949; XVII-265-266.</ref>
* Todt, Klaus-Peter Blessed Elder [[Philotheos (in GermanZervakos)]] has written ''The Errors of Apostolos Makrakis. “[http://www.bautz.de/bbkl/m/makrakis.shtml Markaris'' Although not yet in English translation, Apostolos]it is summarized in part in Dr.” in Constantine Cavarnos's book ''"Blessed Elder Philotheos Zervakos"'Biographisch-Bibliographisches KIRCHENLEXICON'. In his criticism the Elder emphasises that he does not mean to say that there is nothing of value in Makrakis'writings, Band V (1993)Spalten 599-602especially the earlier ones, but that they must be approached with caution.
==Apologetics==* Redington, Norman Hugh (Ed)Dr. Constantine Cavarnos identifies that there are a number of things in his vigorously written book the ''"[http://www.voskrese.info/spl/Xapost-makrakis.html Apostolos Makrakis].Divine and Sacred Catechism" ''The [http://www.voskrese.info/spl/index.html Saint Pachomius Library]: A First Draft for that should interest the student of religion, including the lucid and systematic exposition of the doctrines of the Eastern Church by a Living Encyclopaedia conservative representative of it; the firm belief in perfect divine justice; the very high conception of man — man, according to Makrakis is the most perfect work of Orthodox ChristianityGod, higher even than the angels; and the profound conviction in, and the attempt throughout the book to show, the perfect harmony between experience, reason, and religion.''<ref name=Cavarnos/>
:1b) Five of the Six Books above (excepting the book on ''Ethics''), were re-issued as:::* Le Guillou''The [[w:Christ the Logos|Logos]] and the Holy Spirit in the Unity of Christian Thought: According to the Teachings of the Orthodox Church''. 5 Vols. Chicago : Orthodox Christian Educational Society, Marie Josephc.1977.(in French)::: Vol 1. ''"Aux sources des mouvements spirituels de lThe Orthodox Approach to Philosophy''Églises de Grèce."::: Vol 2. '' in Psychology: An Orthodox Christian Perspective''.::: Vol 3. 'Istina 7 1960, p 95-128,133-152,261-278'Logic: an Orthodox Christian approach''. (Contents::: Vol 4. ''Theology: La renaissance spirituelle du XVIIIe siècleAn Orthodox Standpoint''. Église et état au XIXe et au XXe siècle::: Vol 5. Apostolos Makrakis''Philosophy: ses intuitions apostoliques et spirituelles)An Orthodox Christian Understanding''.
* 2) ''A Commentary on the Revelation of John the Divine''.
* 3) ''Interpretation of the Gospel Law'', and, ''Our Duties to God and Christ''. b) ''A Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews''. Two vols. in one.
* 4) ''Divine and Sacred Catechism''.
* 5) ''The Foundation of Philosophy''.
* 6) ''The Bible and the World, An interpretation of the first three chapters of Genesis '''in extenso''' and from a philosophical point of view'', and, ''Triluminal Science, Surveying the Universe and Explaining Everything'' (1 vol).
* 7) ''Interpretation of the Entire New Testament'' (except the ''Book of Revelation''). 2 vols.
* 8) ''An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation''.
* 9) ''The Paramount Doctrine of Orthodoxy'' (3 books in one vol).
* 10) ''Commentary on the Psalms of David and the Nine Odes''.
* 11) ''Kyriakodromion, or Sunday Sermonary, and Festal Sermons''. (A collection of sermons on the [[Gospels]], the Acts of the Apostles, and the [[Apostolos|epistles]] appointed to be read in Orthodox Christian Churches every Sunday from [[Pascha|Easter]] to [[Palm Sunday]]).
* 12) All in one volume:
:I. ''Three Great Friday Sermons'';
:II. ''Three Sermons on the Death on the Cross and the Glorious Resurrection'';
:III. ''The Ascension into Heaven'';
:IV. ''Christ, Announcing His Nature'';
:V. ''All the Parables of the Gospel'';
:VI. ''The Truth in Christianity'';
:VII. ''Testimonies Concerning the Super Holy Virgin''.
* 13) ''Freemasonry Known by Masonic Diploma''.
* 14) ''Papal Primacy and Innovations of Roman Catholic Church''.
* 15) ''Scriptural Refutations of Pope's Primacy'', and, ''Misc. Studies and Speeches''.
* 16) ''Memoir on the Nature of the Church of Christ''.
* 17) ''The Two Contrariant Schools'', and, ''Concerning the Establishment of a Christian University''.
* 18) ''An Orthodox-Protestant Debate''.
* 19) ''A Revelation of Treasure Hid, Together with Three Important Lectures: I. Concerning Freedom - II. Concerning the Motherland. - III. Concerning Justice and Apostolical Canons Respecting Baptism''.
* 20) ''Proofs of the Authenticity of the [[Septuagint]]''.
* 21) ''God's Law and Commandments, the Decalogue and the Gospel''.
* 22) ''The Repose of Our Most Holy and Glorious Lady the Theotokos''.
* 23) ''The City of Zion, or The Church Built Upon the Rock''.
* 24) ''Philosophical Discussions''.
* 25) ''The Real Truth Concerning Apostolos Makrakis''.
* 26) ''[[The Rudder|The RUDDER]] or PEDALION, of the Metaphorical Ship of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church of Orthodox Christians (All the Sacred and Divine Canons)''. (Editor).
* 27) ''The Trial of Jesus Christ (by Abba Aristarchus)''.
* 28) ''The Idea of Being''.
* 29) ''The Roman Rite in Orthodoxy''.
* 30) ''Spiritual Discourses for the Orthodox Christians''.
* 31) ''The Orthodox Doctrine on Development and Advancement'', and, ''Perfection of the Human Nature of our Lord Jesus Christ''.
* 32) ''The Orthodox Definition of Political Science''.
* 33) ''Appraisals of the Works of Apostolos Makrakis by Eminent Authorities''. 300 pp.
* 34) ''Orthodox Christian Meditations''.
* 35) ''Hellenism and the Unfinished Revolution: Twenty Addresses Delivered in Concord Square, Athens, Greece in 1866''.
* 36) ''Homily on the Eight Beatitudes, or The Sermon on the Mountain: A Summary Teaching Delivered by Apostolos Makrakis in the Island of Leukas, Greece, on August 29, 1886, During his Second Gospel-Tour''.
* 37) ''[http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/articles/dogmatics/makrakis_truth_christianity.htm The Truth in Christianity: The One True Doctrine and The Many False Ones].''
===Untranslated or Unpublished===
* 1) ''A New Educational System'', in three volumes, comprising the Formation, Meaning, and Use of Words. 885 pp.
* 2) ''Interpretative Logical System''; or, ''Interpretation of the Whole New Testament, verse by verse, including Revelation''. 3,100 pp.
* 3) ''A Commentary on the Gospel According to St. Matthew'', from notes taken at his lectures. Unpublished. About 1000 pp.
* 4) ''A Commentary on the Gospel of St. John'', from lecture notes. Unpublished. About 500 pp.
* 5) ''A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles''. Unpublished. About 500 pp.
* 6) ''A Commentary on the Song of Songs''. 150 pp.
* 7) ''Three Philosophical Dissertations and the Tree of Life''. Written in French, and translated into Greek by Dr. A. Lekatsas. 388 pp.
* 8) ''An Apology Concerning the Soul''. 310 pp.
* 9) ''The Tricompositeness of Man Proved by Fathers of the Church''. 284 pp. <small>(A brilliantly written and scholarly dissertation)</small>.
* 10) ''Logical Refutation of an Ironclad Refutation''. 196 pp. <small>(An answer to a critic who undertook to criticize Makrakis' doctrine concerning the threefold nature of man)</small>.
* 11) ''History of Human Happiness and Unhappiness''. 630 pp.
* 12) ''Trial of Philosophy and of the Doctrines of Western Schools''. 160 pp.
* 13) ''Miscellaneous Thoughts and Orations''. Total some 300 pp.
* 14) ''The Nationally-Glorified Work of 1821''. 94 pp.
* 15) ''Freemasonry''. 150 pp.
* 16) ''The Christian Religion''.
==Further reading=Biographical References in =*Andronis, Constantine (Ed.). ''Apostolos Makrakis: An Evaluation of Half a Century.'' Chicago: Orthodox Christian Educational Society, 1966. ''*Stephanou, Archim. Eusebius A.. ''The Importance of Apostolos Makrakis to Orthodoxy''. Holy Cross Greek===Orthodox Theological School, 1958.*Stephanou, Archim. Eusebius A.. ''Apostolos Makrakis, the Prophet and Thinker of Modern Greece.'' 1954.*[[Philotheos (Zervakos)|Zervakos, Blessed Elder Philotheos]]. ''The Errors of Apostolos Makrakis.''
==Sources==* Andronis, Constantine (Ed.). ''Apostolos Makrakis: An Evaluation of Half a Century.'' Chicago: Orthodox Christian Educational Society, 1966. * Anastassiadis, Anastassios. [http://www.ceri-sciencespo.com/publica/question/qdr11.pdf Religion and Politics in Greece: The Greek Church's 'Conservative Modernization' in the 1990's]. Research in Question, No.11, January 2004. (pdf format).* TriantaphylluCavarnos, Kostas NConstantine (Dr).Reviewed Work: ''Historikon Lexikon Ton PatronDivine and Sacred Catechism'' by Apostolos Makrakis. Transl. from the Greek by the Hellenic Christian Society, Chicago, Illinois. New York: Cosmos Greek-American Printing Co., 1946. '''Journal of the American Academy of Religion''', 1949; XVII-265-266.* Chondropoulos, Sotos. ''Saint Nektarios: The Saint of Our Century.'' Transl. Peter and Aliki Los. Athens, 1997. ISBN 960-7374-08-8* [[w:Frederick Cornwallis Conybeare|Conybeare, Frederick Cornwallis]]. Reviewed Works: ''The Student's History of the Greek Church'' by Rev. A.H. Hore (M.A.). London and Oxford: James Parker, 1902. 514 pp.; ''Geschichte der Orientalischen Kirchen von 1453-1898'' by Prof. A. Diomedes Kyriakos. Leipzig, 1902. '''American Journal of Theology, Vol.7, No,3 (July 1903). pp.555-563.'''* Le Guillou, Marie Joseph. ''Aux sources des mouvements spirituels de l'Églises de Grèce.'' in '''Istina''' 7 1960, p 95-128,133-152,261-278. (in French)* Maloney, George A., S. J. ''A History of Orthodox Theology Since 1453''. Norland Publishing, Massachusetts, 1976.* Redington, Norman Hugh (Ed). "[http://www.voskrese.info/spl/Xapost- makrakis.html Apostolos Makrakis]." ''The [http://www.voskrese.info/spl/index.html Saint Pachomius Library]: A First Draft for a Living Encyclopaedia of Orthodox Christianity.''* Scharlemann, R.P.. Peer Reviewed Book Review of Makrakis': ''The Logos and Holy Spirit in the Unity of Christian Thought, 5 Vols: Vol 1:The Orthodox Approach to Philosophy, Vol 2:Psychology An Orthodox Christian Perspective, Vol 3: Logic An Orthodox Christian Approach, Vol 4:Theology An Orthodox Standpoint, Vol 5:Philosophy An Orthodox Christian Understanding. ekd'' Translated from the Greek by Denver Cummings: Orthodox Christian Education Society, 1977.'' 'Journal of Religion 59 no 4 O 1979, p 488- Patrai490'''.* Simonopetritis, 1980Very Rev. Archim. Isaias. "[http://www.aegeantimes.gr/pigizois/agglika/inegl_27.htm The Orthodox Church and Proselytism]." Orthodox Herald, Official Publication of the Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain, September–October 2001, No. 120-121. * ''The New York Times Guide to Essential Knowledge''. 1st Ed.. St. Martin's Press, NY, Oct. 2004.* TolikaTodt, Olympia NKlaus-Peter."[http: //www.bautz.de/bbkl/m/makrakis.shtml Markaris, Apostolos]" in ''Biographisch-Bibliographisches KIRCHENLEXICON''Epitomo Enkyklopaidiko Lexiko Tes Byzantines Musikes, Band V (1993) Spalten 599-602. (in German)* Yannaras, Christos.'' Orthodoxy and the West: Hellenic Self- AthenaIdentity in the Modern Age''. Transl. Peter Chamberas and Norman Russell. Holy Cross Orthodox Press, Brookline, Mass., 19932006.
'''Biographical Sources in Greek'''
* Metallinos, G.D. ''Ekpaideutike Hellenike Enkyklopaideia: Pankosmio Biographiko Lexiko.'' Athena, 1983-1988. Tom. 1-9B.
* Tolika, Olympia N. ''Epitomo Enkyklopaidiko Lexiko Tes Byzantines Musikes.'' Athena, 1993.
* Triantaphyllu, Kostas N. ''Historikon Lexikon Ton Patron. 2. ekd.'' Patrai, 1980.
* Zoes, Leonidas Ch. ''Lexikon Historikon Kai Laographikon Zakynthu.'' Athenai, 1963. Tom. 1.
==External Links==
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