Commentary on the Psalms of David

Plot

About the Author: Dr. Apostolos Makrakis (1831-1905) was a popular and controversial Greek Orthodox lay theologian, preacher, ethicist and philosopher who was a leader of the "awakening movement" in post-revolutionary Greece, and arguably one of the most important religious personalities of the 19th century. He was an extremely prolific writer whose works were translated widely outside of Greece, however his vigorous religious movement eventually turned the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church against him, resulting in his being condemned and jailed several times.

Apostolos Makrakis was a highly cultured Greek layman and patriotic visionary whose vigorous religious movement became a popular phenomenon that shook the religious and national establishment of his time (The Greek Orthodox Church). 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 unique and controversial Christological-Philosophical teachings, to his fight against Freemasonry and Simony, he 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 the masses on the one hand, it was not received very well by the religious establishment, as Dr. Cavarnos, 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 Brotherhood Movements, which in the 20th century played a significant role in education and catechetical schools. --Condensed from Tolika, Olympia N. Epitomo Enkyklopaidiko Lexiko Tes Byzantines Musikes. Athena, 1993. and Zoes, Leonidas Ch. Lexikon Historikon Kai Laographikon Zakynthu. Athenai, 1963. Tom. 1.