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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 Katavati on [[w:Greek War of IndependenceSifnos|post-revolutionary GreeceSifnos 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. 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 [[Metropolis of Patra|PatraPatras]], 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, having as his <ref group="note">His most fervent followers were Theodoros Kapetanon, Ioannis Arnellon, and Nikolaos Christogiannopoulos.</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, who recommended that he be exiled for two years lest he be judged by the [[Holy Synod|Synod]]. For Makrakis visited Patras for a period of thirty years Makrakis visited Patras, in 1876 remaining there for forty-days teaching 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>.
===Legacy===
Apostolos Makrakis was a highly cultured layman and patriotic visionary whose vigorous religious movement became an interesting a popular phenomenon that shook the religious and national establishment of the his time. From believing that he had been divinely chosen as the liberator of Byzantium from the Turk, to his preaching tours throughout Greece focusing on [[Soteriology]], advocating his particular unique and controversial Christological-Philosophical stanceteachings, to his fight against Freemasonry and [[w:Simony|Simony]], <ref group="note">In combating Freemasonry he was going up against certain elements within the State; and in combating Simony he was going up against certain elements within the Church. Therefore he incurred enemies from both Church and State.</ref> he truly effectively became a leader of the awakening religious and national movement in modern Hellas. In the process he also became a symbol for the freedom of religious thought and expression; while his message found strong support amongst many from the masses on the one hand, it justifyably was not received very well by the religious establishment, as Dr. Cavarnos and [[Philotheos (Zervakos)|Elder Philotheos]] among others have explained. In his article [http://www.aegeantimes.gr/pigizois/agglika/inegl_27.htm The Orthodox Church and Proselytism], the Very Rev. Archimandrite Isaias Simonopetritis writes that while Makrakis was condemned by the official Church and the monasteries of [[Mount Athos]], he was not excommunicated, for fear that his numerous followers among the middle classes of Athens would turn him into a [[martyr]] figure. His ideas and the particular pietistic ethos which he promoted survived in the [[Brotherhoods|Brotherhood]] Movements which in the 20th century played a significant role in education and catechetical schools, but unguardedly allied themselves with right-wing dictatorships, pure Greek patriotism being a key element in their ideology.<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>
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> =List of Works=Criticisms==*The Bible British Orientalist and Professor of Theology at the world; or God's Great Book studied University of Oxford [[w:Frederick Cornwallis Conybeare|Frederick Cornwallis Conybeare]], a contemporary of Makrakis writing in 1903, proposed that if we cut through the Light many mists of His Small One. Triluminal Sciencespiteful exaggeration often attributed to Makrakis' life story, Surveying ::we can discern that his teaching exactly agrees with that ascribed to the Universe [[w:Ebionites|Ebionites]] and Explaining Everythingto [[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, etcchap. Proofs 34. A not very dissimilar form of [[Adoptionism|Adoptionist doctrine]] still survives among the Authenticity dissenters of Russia and of the Armenia, and I suspect that Makrakis had come into contact with them.<ref>*[[Septuagintw: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>. *The City Dr. Constantine Cavarnos although referring to Makrakis as "perhaps the most outstanding philosopher and religious teacher of Zionmodern Greece," in reviewing Makrakis' important treatise on [[Soteriology]], the ''"Divine and Sacred Catechism"'', or states that Makrakis' teaching is marred by the Church Built Upon exaggerated importance he attributes to the RockDevil, by his narrow conception of Orthodoxy, and his invective against other religious denominations.<ref name=Cavarnos>Cavarnos, Constantine (Dr). Reviewed Work: i''Divine and Sacred Catechism by Apostolos Makrakis''.eTransl. The Human from the Greek by the Hellenic Christian Society in Christ, Chicago, Illinois. New York: Cosmos Greek-American Printing Co., 1946. '''Journal of the American Academy of Religion''', 1949; XVII-265-266.</ref> *Commentary On Blessed Elder [[Philotheos (Zervakos)]] has written ''The Psalms Errors of DavidApostolos Makrakis.'' Although not yet in English translation, it is summarized in part in Dr. Constantine Cavarnos's book ''"Blessed Elder Philotheos Zervakos"''.*Concerning Our Duties In his criticism the Elder emphasises that he does not mean to Godsay that there is nothing of value in Makrakis' writings, especially the earlier ones, but that they must be approached with caution. ==Apologetics==*Dr. Constantine Cavarnos identifies that there are a number of things in his vigorously written book the ''"Divine and Sacred Catechism: As Taught "'' that should interest the student of religion, including the lucid and systematic exposition of the doctrines of the Eastern Church by a conservative representative of it; the Holy Spirit and its Official Instruments from firm belief in perfect divine justice; the Day very high conception of man — man, according to Makrakis is the Pentecost until most perfect work of God, higher even than the Last Ecumenical Synodangels; Expounded and the profound conviction in Comparison , and Contrast with the Contradictions attempt throughout the book to show, the perfect harmony between experience, reason, and Misinter-pretation religion.<ref name=Cavarnos/> ==Complete List of Works==The following catalog of Makrakis' massive writing repertoire is based on the Devillist found in Constantine Andronis' ''Apostolos Makrakis: An Evaluation of Half a Century'' (1966).<ref>Andronis, Constantine (Ed.). ''Apostolos Makrakis: An Evaluation of Half a Century''. Chicago: Orthodox Christian Educational Society, 1966. pp.337-339.</ref>.===Periodcals===* ''Justice'', 1866-67. *''The Foundation Of Logos'', 1868-1905.* ''Peace'', 1874-76.===In English Translation===* 1) ''A New Original Philosophical System'', [3 Vols, Divided into 6 Books], viz., ''Introduction to Philosophy; Psychology; Logic; Ethics; Theology;'' and ''Philosophy''. Athens, 1876, 1883, and 1886. 2,075 pp. :: Transl: Vol. I, ''An Invitation to Philosophy, Psychology and Logic''; Vol. II, ''Ethics''; Vol. III, ''Theology and Philosophy''.1940. :1a) Re-printed as:::*Hellenism ''A New Philosophy and the Unfinished RevolutionPhilosophical Sciences: Twenty Addresses Delivered in Concord SquareA New Original Philosophical System'' [2 Vols]. New York, AthensG.P. Putnam's Sons, Greece in 18661940. :1b) Five of the Six Books above (excepting the book on ''Ethics''), were re-issued as:::*''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 : Her NatureOrthodox Christian Educational Society, Salvationary Doctrines, and Fountain of Faithc.1977.::: 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''. *Homily 2) ''A Commentary on the Eight Beatitudes, or The Sermon on Revelation of John the Mountain: A Summary Teaching Delivered by Apostolos Makrakis in Divine''.* 3) ''Interpretation of the Island of LeukasGospel Law'', Greeceand, ''Our Duties to God and Christ''. b) ''A Commentary on August 29, 1886, During his Second Gospel-Tourthe Epistle to the Hebrews''. Two vols. in one.* 4) ''Divine and Sacred Catechism''.*5) ''The Human Nature Foundation of Christ; Growth Philosophy''.* 6) ''The Bible and Perfection According to the Teaching World, An interpretation of the Orthodox Catholic Churchfirst three chapters of Genesis '''in extenso''' and from a philosophical point of view'', and, ''Triluminal Science, Surveying the Universe and Explaining Everything'' (1 vol).*The Innovations 7) ''Interpretation of the Roman ChurchEntire New Testament'' (except the ''Book of Revelation''). 2 vols.*8) ''An Interpretation Of of the Book Of of Revelation''.* 9) ''The Paramount Doctrine of Orthodoxy'' (3 books in one vol).*Interpretation 10) ''Commentary on the Psalms of David and the Entire New TestamentNine Odes''.*11) ''Kyriakodromion (, or Sunday Sermonary): a Collection , and Festal Sermons''. (A collection of Sermons sermons on the [[Gospels]], the Acts of the Apostles, and the [[Apostolos|epistles]] Appointed appointed to be Read read in Orthodox Christian Churches Every every Sunday from [[Pascha|Easter]] to [[Palm Sunday]]).*Logic12) All in one volume:: An Orthodox Christian ApproachI.''Three Great Friday Sermons''; *The [[w:Christ II. ''Three Sermons on the Death on the Logos|Logos]] Cross and the Holy Spirit in the Unity of Christian ThoughtGlorious Resurrection''; : According to the Teachings of the Orthodox ChurchIII.''The Ascension into Heaven''; *Memoir On The :IV. ''Christ, Announcing His Nature ''; :V. ''All the Parables of the Church of ChristGospel''; :VI. Trans''The Truth in Christianity''; : DVII. Cummings. New York: Christian Brotherhoods Zealots of Orthodoxy and John ''Testimonies Concerning the Baptist, 1947Super Holy Virgin''.*Orthodox Christian Meditations13) ''Freemasonry Known by Masonic Diploma''.*An Orthodox-Protestant Dialogue14) ''Papal Primacy and Innovations of Roman Catholic Church''.*The Paramount Doctrines 15) ''Scriptural Refutations of OrthodoxyPope's Primacy'', and, ''Misc. Studies and Speeches''.*Philosophical Discussions, Comprising Articles Concerning 16) ''Memoir on the New Philosophy & Philosophical Sciences Nature of Apostolos Makrakis; And, the Philosophy Church of Spinoza and its Pernicious ErrorsChrist''.*Political Philosophy Of 17) ''The Orthodox ChurchTwo Contrariant Schools'', and, ''Concerning the Establishment of a Christian University''.*Psychology: 18) ''An Orthodox Christian Perspective-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 Orthodox Metaphorical Ship of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church: The Compilation of Orthodox Christians (All the Holy Sacred and Divine Canons )''. (Editor).*A Scriptural Refutation 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 PopeOrthodox Christians''.* 31) ''s Primacy The Orthodox Doctrine on Development and Miscellaneous Studies Advancement'', and Speeches, ''Perfection of the Human Nature of our Lord Jesus Christ''. Transl* 32) ''The Orthodox Definition of Political Science''. out * 33) ''Appraisals of the original Greek Works of Apostolos Makrakis by DEminent Authorities''. 300 pp. Cummings - Chicago (III* 34): ''Orthodox Christian Educational Society, 1952. - VIII, 175 pMeditations''.*Theology35) ''Hellenism and the Unfinished Revolution: An Orthodox StandpointTwenty Addresses Delivered in Concord Square, Athens, Greece in 1866''.*Three Great Friday Sermons36) ''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, and Other Theological DiscoursesDuring 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>(articleA brilliantly written and scholarly dissertation)</small>.*The Two Contrariant Schools: Contrasted with 10) ''Logical Refutation of an Ironclad Refutation''. 196 pp. <small>(An answer to a View critic who undertook to criticize Makrakis' doctrine concerning the Comprehension threefold nature of man)</small>.* 11) ''History of BothHuman Happiness and Unhappiness''. Concerning 630 pp.* 12) ''Trial of Philosophy and of the Establishment Doctrines of Western Schools''. 160 pp.* 13) ''Miscellaneous Thoughts and Orations''. Total some 300 pp.* 14) ''The Nationally-Glorified Work of a 1821''. 94 pp.* 15) ''Freemasonry''. 150 pp.* 16) ''The Christian University in Athens: To Supersede the Existing Satanic PerversityReligion''.
==Further reading==
*Andronis, Constantine (Ed.). ''Apostolos Makrakis: An Evaluation of Half a Century.'' Chicago: Orthodox Christian Educational Society, 1966. '' (A complete list of the staggering amount of works of Makrakis is given in English, pp.337-339).'':* [http://pseudo-apostolosmakrakis.blogspot.com/ Biography: Apostolos Makrakis An Evaluation of a Century] on Blogspot. (''Includes a lengthy biography of Makrakis apparently taken from pp.13-21 of Andronis' work; also links to this OrthodoxWiki article).''
*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.'' ==Notes==<ref>While Elder Philotheos's book on Makrakis has not been translated yet, there is a very careful summary of its contents, as well as those of two shorter publications of his on the subject, in Dr. Constantine Cavarnos's book '''Blessed Elder Philotheos Zervakos''', Vol. 11 in the Modern Orthodox Saints series (ISBN 0914744941) from the Institute for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies. Note that Elder Philotheos emphasises that he does not mean to say that there is nothing of value in Makrakis' writings, especially the earlier ones, only that they must be approached with caution.<references group="note" /ref>
==References==
<div class="small"><references/></div> ==Sources and External links==
==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).
*Cavarnos, Constantine (Dr). Reviewed 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. '''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.'' Translated from the Greek by Denver Cummings: Orthodox Christian Education Society, 1977. '''Journal of Religion 59 no 4 O 1979, p 488-490'''.
* Simonopetritis, Very Rev. ArchimanArchim. 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.* Todt, Klaus-Peter. “"[http://www.bautz.de/bbkl/m/makrakis.shtml Markaris, Apostolos].” " in ''Biographisch-Bibliographisches KIRCHENLEXICON'', Band V (1993) Spalten 599-602. ''(in German)* Yannaras, Christos. ''Orthodoxy and the West: Hellenic Self-Identity in the Modern Age''. Transl. Peter Chamberas and Norman Russell. Holy Cross Orthodox Press, Brookline, Mass., 2006.
* 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==
'''Wikipedia'''
* [[w:Christian anthropology|Christian anthropology]]
* [[w:Age_of_Enlightenment|Age of Enlightenment]]
* {{el icon}} [http://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%91%CF%80%CF%8C%CF%83%CF%84%CE%BF%CE%BB%CE%BF%CF%82_%CE%9C%CE%B1%CE%BA%CF%81%CE%AC%CE%BA%CE%B7%CF%82 Απόστολος Μακράκης]. Βικιπαίδεια.
[[Category:Modern Writers]]