Venerable Michael Maleinos (+962)
The Venerable Michael Maleinos (in the world Manuel) was a descendant of the renowned family of the Maleinoi and a kinsman of the Emperor Leo VI the Wise (886–912). He was born around 894 in Cappadocia. In his youth Manuel was sent to Constantinople to learn the manners of the royal court, but the young man, moved by divine zeal, went secretly to Bithynia, to the monastery on Mount Kyminas, where after a certain period of labour his teacher, John Elladios, tonsured him a monk with the name Michael. His parents were deeply offended by their son’s action; they took him home by force, but could not persuade him to give up the monastic life. The young ascetic returned to the monastery, where he was appointed refectorian. The venerable father himself prepared the food, washed the dishes, and tirelessly did other such tasks… He went whole days in a single tunic and barefoot, and at night, even in winter, he slept on boards… When two years later his father saw Michael, he rejoiced greatly and said to him: “Take care, my son, never to fall away from the Lord, whom thou hast loved more than thy parents and this world!” Soon the saint’s father died, and his mother became a nun and commended her soul to the Lord in piety. The blessed one distributed part of the property he inherited to the poor and to the slaves and maidservants he set free, and gave part to the monastery.
Michael asked his teacher for a blessing to live in seclusion in a cave in the rock near the monastery: five days a week he spent there in solitude, and on Saturdays and Sundays he returned to the monastery to attend the services and receive Communion. Four years later the venerable father settled in the inner desert with his pious kinsman Agapius. Later the ascetics decided to labour apart, in silence. Michael made himself a small hut in a desolate place called the Dry Lake and secluded himself there. Soon those who wished to labour under his guidance began to come to the saint. At first the blessed one sent them all away, but later, seeing the zeal of those who came, he began to receive them one by one and to instruct them in the spiritual life. When the number of brethren passed fifty, Michael founded a lavra for them with a strict rule, called the Venerable Agapius and entrusted him with the care of the monastery, while he himself went with a few monks to more remote places and founded a new monastery. Soon, through the blessed father’s labours, the whole of Mount Kyminas was covered with the dwellings of monks, where prayers and supplications were offered without ceasing.
No insulting or evil word about another ever came from the saint’s lips. Bearing the name of an angel, he lived like an angel and gave an example of strict abstinence: he fasted strictly, and allowed his body rest only in serious illness, on God’s feasts, or when entertaining eminent guests. In the first years of his monastic life he took food every other day, then once in five days, and at last once in twelve days; he ate only plants; when he was well he slept sitting on a stool, and when ill on a hard bed. The blessed one greatly loved the feasts, especially those of the Lord and of the Mother of God; on these days, at the all-night vigils, he would sing, carried away with joy. Saint Michael was the teacher of the Venerable Athanasius (commemorated 5 July).
The saint commended his soul to the Lord in 962. Many miraculous healings took place at his incorrupt relics.
