Michael Maleinos

Michael Maleinos (icon, 1630s)

Saint Michael Maleinos (Greek: Μιχαήλ Μαλεΐνος, c. 894–963) was a Byzantine monk who commanded great respect among Christians of Asia Minor. He was the brother of general Constantine Maleinos and uncle of Nikephoros Phokas, who was greatly influenced by Michael and became Byzantine emperor several years after his death. Michael's feast day is July 12.

He was born Manuel Maleinos (Μανουήλ Μαλεΐνος) into the wealthiest family of Cappadocia and spent his youth at the court of Emperor Leo the Wise, who was his relative. At the age of 18 he denounced worldly pleasures and withdrew to Bithynia, where he founded a highly reputable lavra. Athanasius of Trebizond, who started his monastic life at Michael's monastery, later modeled the Great Lavra, Mount Athos upon Michael's establishment.

Michael Maleinos was a patron saint of Mikhail Feodorovich, the first Romanov tsar. Owing to this fact, he was greatly revered by the Romanov dynasty and many chapels were dedicated to him in Russia.

References

• Ortodox Church of America, Feasts and Saints

Persondata
Name	Maleinos, Michael
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	894
Place of birth
Date of death	963
Place of death