Maximos Hakim was born in Aleppo circa 1689 and entered in the religious order of the Basilian Chouerites, of which he became general superior on 29 November 1729. In 1732 he was elected by the clergy and laity as the metropolitan bishop of Aleppo for both the Melkite Catholic and Melkite Orthodox parties. He was consecrated bishop by the former bishop of Aleppo, Gerosimos, one of the founder of the Basilian Chouerite Order. This situation could not last long and when in 1750 the Patriarchate of Constantinople appointed a new Orthodox bishop, also in Aleppo the hierarchy was definitely split, with Maximos who remained the bishop for only the Melkite Catholics. Due to this situation he had to live for long times in the safe motherhouse of his order in Lebanon.