Biography
Maximus of Naples
About Maximus of Naples
Maximus was a fourth-century bishop of Naples, remembered for his refusal to abandon the Nicene faith under Emperor Constantius II. The archdiocese places him tenth in its episcopal succession and records his mention around 355, between Fortunatus and Zosimus.
The ancient Libellus precum describes him as physically frail and subjected to prolonged ill-treatment intended to break his resolve. Its authors say that he remained firm and was sent into exile, where he died. They honor him as a martyr, although their account describes death in exile rather than an execution.
The same petition says that Zosimus was appointed in his place and that Maximus wrote from exile condemning him. It subsequently tells how Lucifer of Cagliari refused communion with Zosimus. In the authors’ account, Zosimus repeatedly lost the ability to speak while conducting worship and eventually relinquished his office. They interpreted this reported affliction as divine confirmation of the condemnation.
Marcellinus and Faustinus submitted the petition in 383 or 384. As the Presbyters Project explains, they were defenders of an uncompromising Nicene position, asking the emperors for protection against other church authorities. Their narrative preserves Maximus’s memory within that later controversy.
Colin Whiting’s study traces the Naples episode to these brief notices. He observes that the petition’s account does not itself establish a continuing Luciferian community at Naples.
Borrelli dates his death to about 361 and describes the later return of remains associated with him to Naples. His account also records an inscription identifying Maximus as bishop and confessor, and the confirmation of his longstanding cult in 1840. The feast listed in that biography is 11 June.
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