Venerable Macarius of Alexandria
O sacred head, earthly angel and heavenly man, venerable and God-bearing Father Macarius! We fall to you with faith and love and pray diligently: show us your holy intercession to the humble and sinners. Because it is a sin for our sake, it is not the imams of freedom for the children of God to ask our Lord and Master for our needs, but we offer you a prayer book favorable to Him and we ask you with zeal for many: ask us from His goodness for favorable gifts for our souls and bodies: faith in justice, hope salvation is undoubted, love for everyone is unfeigned, patience in suffering, constancy in prayers, health of soul and body, fruitfulness of the earth, prosperity of the air, contentment of everyday needs, peaceful and serene life, good Christian life and a good answer at the Last Judgment of Christ. Do not forget, Reverend Father, the deserted place of your deeds, but be kind to it and glorify it with your miracles: and mercifully deliver all who come to venerate the relics of your saints from the temptations of the devil and all evil. Hey, miracle-working saint! Do not deprive us of your heavenly help, but with your prayers bring us all into the haven of salvation, and show us heirs of the All-Bright Kingdom of Christ, let us sing and glorify the ineffable generosity of the Lover of God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and your holy paternal intercession, in forever and ever. Amen.
Sermon before the rite of expelling evil spirits from a person.
Sergiev Posad, Edition of the Church of St. Peter and Paul, 2002, 11 pp., 1.5 MB
The spiritual censor is Abbot Nikolai (Paramonov).
2011, 712 pages, 6 MB
Publishing house “Blagovest”, Moscow, 2011, 480 pp., 80 MB
Publisher: Blessing, 2004 MP3, 192 kbps, 139 MB.
Deacon Alexey Karpunin reads.
The recording uses chants performed by the choir of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra. DOWNLOAD
MP3, 3 hours 16 minutes, 320 kbps, 451 MB.
Performers: monks of the St. Elisabeth Monastery, Minsk. DOWNLOAD
Venerable Macarius of Alexandria
St. Macarius of Alexandria
Born in 295 in Alexandria. He was engaged in trade until he was forty years old, then he accepted holy baptism and retired into the desert. After several years of ascetic life, he was ordained to the rank of presbyter and made abbot of a monastery called “Kelli”, in the Egyptian desert between Mount Nitria and a monastery in which hermit monks labored in silence, each separately in his own cell. He was the most sincere friend of the Monk Macarius of Egypt (+ c. 390-394), with whom during the reign of Valens he was expelled from his fatherland. Both Macarii were very similar to each other in character and way of life and had the same common teacher and mentor - St. Anthony the Great (+ 356), from whom they repeatedly received instructions for improvement in a virtuous life.
One day, the Monk Macarius of Alexandria and Macarius of Egypt needed to cross the Nile River on a large ferry, on which two tribunes (chief commanders) also boarded with their magnificent retinue of troops, squires and warriors, adorned with chains and gold belts. When these tribunes noticed two reverend elders, dressed in shabby clothes and standing in a corner, they praised their humble and poor life, and one of the thousand officers said to the elders: “Blessed are you who despise the world.” The Monk Macarius of Alexandria responded to this: “We, indeed, neglect the world, and the world laughs at you. What you said was not of your will, but prophetically, because we are both called Macarii, that is, blessed.” Touched by these speeches of the Monk Macarius of Alexandria, the tribune, upon returning home, took off his clothes and, distributing his property to the poor, chose a hermit’s life.
The Monk Macarius, increasing his exploits, made it a rule not to eat any bread or brew other than hard millet or some seeds soaked in water. The monk lived in such abstinence for seven years. Then, for three years, he ate a small piece of bread a day (less than a pound), and drank the same amount of water, which served as a strong mortification of the flesh. Using all his efforts, the monk also struggled with sleep, but after such a feat he said for the edification of others: “As far as I had the strength, I overcame sleep, but I was not able to overcome human nature, which requires sleep, and therefore I had to obey it.”
When the Monk Macarius began to be very strongly tempted by the demon of fornication, in order to overcome this enemy, he sat naked for six months in a skete swamp, exposing himself to the bites of many large mosquitoes. And when he returned to his cell, the disciples recognized only by his voice that it was their Abba Macarius.
Having heard about the very strict rules of life of the Tavennisiot monastery, where the rector was the Monk Pachomius the Great (+ 348), the Monk Macarius, hiding himself under worldly clothes, during the entire Holy Pentecost did not eat either bread or water, with the exception of a small amount of dry leaves cabbage on Sundays. And he did this only so that other monks would see what he was eating and so that he would not fall into the sin of arrogance. The Monk Macarius worked incessantly at night and did not rest from his labors; he never sat down or lay down the entire time. He stood without opening his lips, not talking to anyone, but in silence with all his heart, offering up prayer to God. Having seen such a feat of the monk, the ascetics of that monastery were put to shame, for they were exalted in mind, proud of their exploits and fasting. The Monk Macarius, showing humility and giving instruction to everyone, returned to his place.
The primordial enemy of the human race became very embittered with the Monk Macarius for his strictly ascetic lifestyle, and therefore began to tempt his mind with vanity, forcing him to go to Rome. Struggling with temptation, the saint poured a bag of sand, took it upon himself and walked for a long time with this burden in the desert until he tired his body and the proud thought left him.
Through his ascetic life, fasting, and renunciation from all earthly things, the Monk Macarius acquired the gift of working miracles and insight into the innermost thoughts of people, and was rewarded with many miraculous visions. Abba Macarius, being filled with Divine grace, saw that demons, attending church singing and monastic meetings, mocked some, inducing drowsiness or thoughts; at other, weaker brothers, inattentive to prayer, they viciously mocked, sitting on their necks and shoulders; from some monks, if demons began to do something indecent in front of them, they were suddenly driven away by some force and no longer dared to stop in front of them or pass by them.
The Monk Macarius told another, more wondrous and terrible thing, namely, how one of the ascetics of the holy monastery, the Monk Mark, received the Holy Mysteries from the hands of Angels, and the careless of the brethren received, instead of the Body of Christ, burning coals, and the Body of Christ taught by the priestly hand returned back to the altar. The demons ran far away from those who were worthy of holy communion. Meanwhile, near the altar with the priest stood the Angel of the Lord and, together with the priest’s, extended his hand to distribute the Divine Mysteries.
St. Macarius became famous for his many miracles of healing the sick and those possessed by demons.
After many labors and exploits, the Monk Macarius departed to the Lord in peace around 394-395, being one hundred years old from birth.
The Monk Macarius was also a church writer; he penned the “Sermon on the Exodus of the Soul,” which is part of the Followed Psalter, a monastic rule in 30 chapters, and a letter to monks.
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Saint Macarius the Great: life, prayer
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Saint Macarius the Great is an Orthodox miracle worker and hermit who achieved veneration as a Saint, and is also the author of religious discourses.
Life of Macarius the Great
Saint Macarius was born around 300 in Lower Egypt (the village of Ptinapor). At the behest of his parents, he married, but soon became a widower. After the death of his parents and wife, the saint distributed all the property that he had to the poor and then went into the desert to visit an old man. The old man received him with all love and preached to him the spiritual science of worship, fasting and prayer services, and also taught him such a craft as basket weaving. Having erected a separate dwelling not far from his cell, the old man assigned a student there.
After spending several years in the desert, he went to Saint Anthony the Great, the father of the Egyptian hermitage, about whom he had heard a lot while in the world and since then he zealously wanted to meet him. The Monk Anatoly himself lovingly received Blessed Macarius, who soon became not only a devoted disciple, but also a follower.
The Monk Macarius the Great lived with the Saint for quite a long time, but then, heeding the advice of Anatoly, he headed to the northwestern part of Egypt to the Skete desert. And it was there that he became famous for his exploits, for which they began to call him “an old man,” because by that time he had barely reached thirty years of age, showing himself to be a mature monk with rich experience.
Since that time, the Monk Macarius the Great of Egypt has performed a considerable number of healings. People, hoping for help, advice and to hear his sacred prayers, came to him from different places.
However, all this did not provide privacy for the Wonderworker, and therefore he dug a deep cave under his dwelling, where he could retire to think about God and say prayers. In his walk before the Lord, the monk was able to achieve such boldness that, after saying his prayers, the Almighty brought the dead back to life, but despite the achievements of the Saint, he continued to adhere to extraordinary humility.
During the reign of King Valentine, an Arian (from 364 to 378), the monk, together with Macarius of Alexandria, suffered persecution from Luke, an Arian bishop. Both hermits were captured and put on a ship, taking them to a deserted island where only adherents of paganism lived.
It was there that, after reading the prayers of the Miracle Workers, the daughter of the chief priest found healing, after which he and all the inhabitants of the island went through the rite of Baptism. But when the bishop learned what had happened, he was ashamed and allowed the elders to return to their hermitages.
The saint spent about 60 years in a desert that was dead to the world, where he spent most of his time talking with the Lord while in a state of spiritual ecstasy, but he never stopped working hard, repenting and crying.
And the Wonderworker embodied his significant ascetic knowledge in comprehensive Theological writings, consisting of fifty spiritual conversations and seven ascetic words, namely:
- Macarius the Great on purity of heart;
- About spiritual perfection;
- About prayers;
- About prudence and patience;
- About the ascension of the mind;
- About love;
- About freedom of mind.
It was these creations that became the precious heritage of the divine wisdom of Saint Macarius, and the opinion that the task of a believer and his highest good is the unity of the soul with the Lord is the main idea in his writings. In telling what methods exist for achieving sacred unity, the monk took as a basis the knowledge of Egyptian monastic teachers, and also used his own experience.
The skills of holy monks in Communion with God and the path to the Most High is open to every heart in which hope and faith live. That is why the Orthodox Church introduced the ascetic prayers of the Great Wonderworker into the commonly used morning and evening doxologies.
The Saint died at the age of about 90 in 391.
What do they pray to the Saint for?
During his lifetime, for his rigor, accomplished deeds and purity of spirit, the monk was awarded the title Great, therefore, the text of the prayer said before the image of the Egyptian monk will help in resolving many life situations, and will also protect from temptations and misfortunes. They pray to the miracle worker:
- About enlightenment;
- About help in preserving and strengthening faith;
- To gain spiritual purity;
- Finding consolation in difficult life situations;
- The prayer of Macarius the Great helps to obtain spiritual peace;
- On the expulsion of evil spirits;
- About descended wisdom;
- To receive patronage.
When is the Day of Remembrance of the Wonderworker celebrated?
In the Christian Church, a day of celebration in honor of the Saint is established on February 1 (January 19 - old style), where a service is held and an akathist is performed as a form of veneration.
Text of the prayer of Saint Macarius the Great:
Oh, sacred head, reverend father, most blessed Abvo Macarius, do not forget your poor to the end, but always remember us in your holy and auspicious prayers to God. Remember your flock, which you yourself shepherded, and do not forget to visit your children. Pray for us, holy father, for your spiritual children, as if you have boldness towards the Heavenly King, do not be silent for us to the Lord, and do not despise us, who honor you with faith and love.
Remember us unworthy at the Throne of the Almighty, and do not stop praying for us to Christ God, for the grace has been given to you to pray for us. We do not imagine that you are dead, even though you have passed away from us in body, but even after death you remain alive. Do not give up on us in spirit, keeping us from the arrows of the enemy and all the charms of the devil and the snares of the devil, our good shepherd. Even though your relics are always visible before our eyes, your holy soul with the angelic hosts, with the disembodied faces, with the heavenly powers, standing at the Almighty Throne, rejoices with dignity.
Knowing that you are truly alive even after death, we bow down to you and pray to you: pray for us to Almighty God, for the benefit of our souls, and ask us time for repentance, so that we may pass from earth to heaven without restraint, from the bitter ordeals of the demons of the air princes and may we be delivered from eternal torment, and may we be heirs of the Heavenly Kingdom with all the righteous, who from all eternity have pleased our Lord Jesus Christ, to Him belongs all glory, honor and worship, with His Beginning Father and with His Most Holy and Good and Life-Giving Spirit, now and ever and ever. Amen.
Angelic Revelation to St. Macarius of Alexandria
Angelic revelation about how important it is to remember the soul after death on the days appointed by the church (3, 9, 40). On these special days for the deceased, we must provide him with all possible assistance. Only the Orthodox Church remembers the dead and only the prayers of the Orthodox Church are heard by God. Thus, the Holy Church covers us with its prayer both in this life and in the future.
Angelic revelation to St. Macarius of Alexandria about the afterlife state of human souls and about the days of church commemoration of the dead (the third, ninth and fortieth from the day of death).
Once upon a time, when we were walking through the desert, says the disciple of St. Macarius, - I saw two angels who accompanied St. Macarius, one on the right side, the other on the left. On the way, we accidentally found a damaged and stinking corpse. St. Macarius, feeling the stench, covered his nostrils with his hand until he passed by. The angels did the same.
The sinful soul, while still in the body, emits the stench of evil deeds, but much more so after death.
The elder, seeing this, asked them: “Do you really smell the stench of the world in the same way?” They answered: “No; but we, imitating you, did this: for we do not feel the stench, but only smell the stench from the souls of sinners. He is as disgusting to us as the stench of this corpse is disgusting to you.” Surprised by this, the elder tells them: “Explain to me, I ask you: the stench from the souls of sinners - do you feel them in this life, or after their death? And how do you distinguish the souls of sinners who believed in the Lord from the souls of the wicked who did not believe? Tell me if I have gained your favor. The angels answered: “Listen, Macarius, chosen one of God!
The sinful soul, while still in the body, emits the stench of evil deeds, but much more so after death. For evil deeds lie on her, and cover her with darkness, like a black garment. The soul, like the breath of immortal light, in itself is light and pure, but, being in the body and not properly controlling it, each is defiled by sin, some more, some less. But listen, Macarius, how the souls of believers and unbelievers are taken from the body; however, take earthly things for the weakest image of heavenly ones. Just as soldiers sent from an earthly king to seize someone, when they come, they take him against his will, and he is struck with fear and trembles at the very presence of those dragging him on a journey without mercy, so when angels are sent to take the soul of a righteous person or a sinner, it is struck with fear, and trembles at the presence of formidable and inexorable angels. Then she sees that wealth and the presence of relatives and friends are vain, invalid, and completely useless for her; she feels the tears and groans of those around her, but without experiencing such a call, she can never utter a word or give a voice; fears the distance of the journey, etc. life changes; he is also struck by the unmercifulness of the rulers whom he sees before him; worries about his life in the body, cries about separation from it, due to his usual addiction to it. She cannot have that one and only consolation that her own conscience provides if she is not aware of good deeds in herself. Such a soul, even before the determination of the Judge, is incessantly condemned by conscience.”
Abba Macarius offers another question; he says: “I ask you, explain this too: when the fathers ordained to make an offering in the Church to God for the deceased on the third, ninth and fortieth day, then what benefit comes from this to the soul of the deceased?” The angel answered: “God did not allow anything inappropriate and useless to be in His Church, but God allowed His heavenly and earthly sacraments to be in His Church and commanded them to be performed. For when on the third day there is an offering in the Church, the soul of the deceased receives from the angel guarding it relief from the grief that it feels from separation from the body; receives because praise and offerings in the Church of God have been made for her, which is why good hope is born in her. For for two days the soul, together with the angels who are with it, is allowed to walk on earth wherever it wants. Therefore, the soul that loves the body sometimes wanders around the house in which it was separated from the body, sometimes around the coffin in which the body is laid; and thus spends two days, looking for nests for himself, like a bird. And a virtuous soul goes to those places in which it used to do the truth. On the third day, He who rose from the dead on the third day - the God of all - commands, in imitation of His Resurrection, every Christian soul to ascend to heaven to worship the God of all. So, the good Church is in the habit of making an offering and prayer for the soul on the third day.
But if the soul is guilty of sins, then at the sight of the pleasures of the saints it begins to grieve and reproach itself.
After worshiping God, He is commanded to show the soul the various and pleasant abodes of the saints and the beauty of paradise. The soul examines all this for six days, marveling and glorifying the Creator of all this - God. Contemplating all this, she changes and forgets the sorrow that she had while in the body. But if she is guilty of sins, then at the sight of the pleasures of the saints she begins to grieve and reproach herself, saying: “Woe is me! How I fussed in that world! Carried away by the satisfaction of lusts, I spent most of my life in carelessness, did not serve God as I should, so that I too could be rewarded with this goodness and glory. Alas for poor me! Even now I am surrounded by the worries and untimely care that possessed me in that world. What is there to me in the vineyards and olive trees that I have planted? What benefit will the field I purchased bring me? What good does the gold collected there benefit me? What benefit does the wealth there have for me here? What profit did all the sweetness of life and this world bring me? Alas for me! I worked in vain! Alas for me!
I spent my life recklessly! Alas for me! I loved short-term glory and acquired eternal poverty! Alas for me! What have I endured? Woe is me! I didn’t know how darkened I was. Woe is me! No one can help me now, so that I, the unfortunate one, can receive the glory of the Lord.” After considering all the joy of the righteous for six days, she is again lifted up by the angels to worship God. So, the Church does well by performing services and offerings for the deceased on the ninth day. After the second worship, the Lord of all again commands to take the soul to hell and show it the places of torment located there, the different sections of hell and various wicked torments, in which, while the souls of sinners are incessantly weeping and gnashing their teeth. Through these various places of torment the soul rushes for thirty days, trembling, so as not to be condemned to imprisonment in them. On the fortieth day she again ascends to worship God; and then the Judge determines the place of imprisonment appropriate for her based on her cases. So, the Church acts correctly by making remembrances of the departed and those who have been baptized.
This is not the case with souls who have not received Holy Baptism. After separating these unenlightened souls from the body, the inexorable angels, taking them, severely beat them and say: “Come here, wicked soul; know who is your Master and Lord of all. You did not want to know Him, living carelessly in the world, but know Him now, condemned to eternal torment.” And having taken her up to the first heaven, they set her up and show from afar the glory of the angels and all the heavenly powers, saying: “The Lord of all these is Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, whom you did not want to know and honor with worship. Go away from here to the wicked like you and to their prince the devil, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels, whom you worshiped in life as gods.”
The angels, having said this and hugged Macarius, the servant of God, became invisible to us. We will give glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
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The peculiarity of the Orthodox faith is the veneration of the holy fathers and their works compiled for posterity. One of them was Macarius the Great, whose life is full of instructive stories. He became famous not only for his miracles, but also for his numerous soul-saving works.
The path to monasticism of St. Macarius
The future saint was born at the very beginning of the 4th century, in Egypt, which is why he is considered Egyptian. In his youth, Macarius was married, although very soon he became a widower and devoted himself to the study of the Holy Scriptures. Obeying the word of God, he did not become a monk as long as his parents were alive and took care of them. The life of Macarius the Great as a monk began only after their death. Then he went into the desert, where he spent several months alone.
Then he fulfilled his old dream - he became a disciple of St. Anthony (both saints are revered by both Orthodox and Catholics because they lived long before the division of churches). Macarius the Great was joyfully accepted into the monastic family. A few years later, with the blessing of his spiritual father, he again went into the desert.
Life of Macarius the Great
According to the apostolic rules, a person cannot become a priest until he reaches the age of 33. Unfortunately, now these ancient foundations are not always observed, but in the days of the first ascetics they were taken very seriously. Although Saint Macarius the Great was very wise and had a humble disposition, he was called a “youth” until he was 30 years old. Then people understood that spiritual growth is the work of a lifetime, and only a few chosen by God can reach the upper steps.
- Macarius acquired such a peaceful spirit that even robbers turned to Christ after talking with him. There are many stories about this that are recorded in ancient patericons.
Having reached the age of 40 (formerly considered maturity), the saint was ordained to the rank of priest. He also became the leader of the community in which he lived. During these years, St. often visited. Anthony, I was able to learn a lot from him.
Macarius the Great knew for sure that prayer is the only way to God. He himself composed many of the prayers that are included in the daily prayers for Orthodox Christians. It’s easy to recognize them - the texts are short, but succinct, full of humility and repentance. You will find a few at the end of this article, be sure to read them. Even if there is no feeling of repentance in the heart yet, prayer will melt the heart over time, and the believer will be able to feel all his baseness before the Creator, but also realize His goodness and love.
Conversations of Macarius the Great
For those who seek the salvation of the soul, Macarius the Great left his writings - Conversations, Instructions and Epistles. Spiritual conversations are divided by topic:
- about maintaining purity of heart;
- about prayer;
- about there, how to become patient;
- how to achieve spiritual perfection;
- about love and freedom.
The works of Macarius the Great have been translated into many languages, including Russian. The words of the wise old man provide great food for thought and bring much benefit to the soul. For example, he teaches that the first step is to gain firm faith. Then force yourself to live according to the commandments, even if your heart resists it. Macarius the Great wrote in fairly simple language, so anyone can understand his instructions.
His brother Rufinus wrote about Macarius the Great himself in an essay on the life of monks. There he is given a separate chapter. It consists of several episodes. From the narrative it is clear that even then the elder was respected both among the population and among the hermits. Egyptian monastic communities were very numerous; they played a very important role in the formation of the universal Church.
What do they pray to the saint for?
Having reached adulthood, the monk was awarded the gift of miracles from the Lord. Once he even resurrected a dead man in order to convince a person who denied the possibility of resurrection (even some of the Jewish religious schools did not believe in this).
Although in those days Christianity was already quite well known, it was still persecuted. Emperor Valens, who ruled until 378, exiled Macarius the Great to an island where only pagans lived. The monk was with his friend. While they arrived at the place of exile, the leader's daughter fell ill. The monk healed the girl, which forced all the witnesses of the miracle to convert to Christianity.
When rumors of this reached the authorities, both monks were allowed to return to their monastery. The Monk Macarius the Great lived to a very advanced age. It is believed that saints move to some other level of existence and begin to literally feed on the energy of the Creator (in fact, this is indicated in the Bible that the believer will live by the Word of God). He departed to the Lord in 391. His relics remain partly in Italy, partly in the monastery he founded.
One should ask the saint, first of all, for help in saving the soul. You can also pray for physical health and teaching the truths of Scripture.
Prayer of St. Macarius the Great
Reverend Father Macarius! Look upon us mercifully and lead those who are devoted to the earth to the heights of heaven. You are a mountain in heaven, we are on earth below, removed from you, not only by place, but by our sins and iniquities, but we run to you and cry: teach us to walk in your way, enlighten us and guide us. Your whole holy life has been a mirror of every virtue. Do not stop, servant of God, crying to the Lord for us. By your intercession, ask from our All-Merciful God the peace of His Church, under the sign of the militant cross, agreement in faith and unity of wisdom, destruction of vanities and schisms, affirmation in good deeds, healing for the sick, consolation for the sad, intercession for the offended, help for the needy. Do not disgrace us, who come to you with faith. All Orthodox Christians, having performed your miracles and beneficent mercies, confess you to be their patron and intercessor. Show your ancient mercies, and to whom you helped the Father, do not reject us, their children, who are marching towards you in their footsteps. Standing before your most honorable icon, as I live for you, we fall down and pray: accept our prayers and offer them up on the altar of God’s mercy, so that we may receive your grace and timely help in our needs. Strengthen our cowardice and confirm us in faith, so that we undoubtedly hope to receive all the good things from the mercy of the Master through your prayers. Oh, great servant of God! Help all of us who flow to you with faith through your intercession to the Lord, and guide us all in peace and repentance, end our lives and move with hope into the blessed bosom of Abraham, where you now rest joyfully in your labors and struggles, glorifying God with all the saints , in the Trinity glorified, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Video about Saint Macarius
Saint Macarius the Great - life, prayer, conversations, word on purity was last modified: June 22nd, 2017 by Bogolub
Life of Saint Macarius of Corinth
Compiled by Athanasius Parios, his friend
(as summarized by K. Kavarnos)1863, Chios
Corinth is the oldest and most famous city of the Peloponnese. Well known. That the Apostle Paul wrote two Epistles to the Corinthians, filled with Divine wisdom, instructed them and led them from false idolatry to the knowledge of the One True God.
St. Macarius was born and raised in this city. He came from an aristocratic family, belonging to the brilliant ancient family of Byzantine senators, the Notaros. St. Gerasim of Cephalonia, the glory and praise of all Orthodox Christians, who shone and continues to shine with his countless miracles, also belonged to this family.
Parents of St. Macarius, the most pious George and Anastasia, both occupied the first place in Corinth due to their origin and wealth. They had many children. In 1731 St. was born. Macarius, named Michael in holy baptism. His godfather was Archbishop Parthenius of Corinth.
When the boy reached school age, he was sent to Eustathius in Cephalonia to study church literacy. From an early age, Mikhail showed a desire only for the spiritual. He was not interested in anything worldly. He lived very piously. He strove to attend church services and avoided the company of youths and worldly vanity.
With the help of his father, who was an influential politician, Mikhail became the manager of several villages. The father wanted his son to become rich in this way. However, Mikhail distributed considerable sums of money to the needy, and his father often scolded him. In the end, Mikhail decided to leave everything worldly and become a monk. He secretly fled to Mega Spilion (“Great Cave”), a famous monastery in the Peloponnese. Here he tearfully asked the monks to fulfill his wish. But since he came without the permission of his powerful father, they refused. And, indeed, a few days later, having learned that Mikhail was in the monastery, his father ordered him to be returned home, even against his will.
Returning to his parents' house, Mikhail began reading and studying the Divine Scripture and other spiritual books. Later, since the school of Corinth did not have a teacher, he volunteered to teach the children. So he worked for six years without any pay.
In 1764, when the Archbishop of Corinth died, all the inhabitants of the Corinthian region, clergy and laity, rich and poor, old and young, unanimously elected the pious Michael as a candidate for the bishopric. (After he was chosen as a candidate, he was tonsured a monk with the name Macarius). So, equipped with pleading letters of recommendation, accompanied by noble people, he went to Constantinople and appeared before the Holy Synod. The patriarch at this time was Samuel I Haizeris. In Constantinople, Macarius was ordained Archbishop of Corinth.
When he returned to the diocese entrusted to him by God, he saw how great the love was for him: all the Christians in this area celebrated the day of his return, rejoicing, glorifying God for hearing their prayers and giving them such a good shepherd. And indeed, they were not mistaken in their expectations. For as in the early childhood of St. Macarius showed signs of the greatness of his soul and zeal for everything good, and now, when he became a bishop, he confirmed all this with deeds. Like St. Gregory the Theologian, he believed that he received the rank of bishop not as uncontrolled power and a means of pleasure and acquisition of wealth, but as a fatherly concern for the safety and salvation of his spiritual flock, for which he would be responsible to the highest Shepherd, the Lord and God of all.
With such thoughts, he, as a faithful and prudent ruler, began to saturate hungry souls with the spiritual food of the Divine Word. He preached in holy churches with great love, kindness and humility. Until that time, as a result of either the negligence or lack of education of his predecessors, his entire diocese was full of disorder and lawlessness, and church society was in a corrupt state. St. Macarius. Like the new Zerubbabel, he began with great zeal and zeal to restore church life, freeing it from all corruption. First of all, he dismissed all insufficiently educated priests, as well as those who were unable to adequately perform priestly service due to their advanced age. Then he forbade all priests to take part in politics, because at that time in many places there was a bad custom when the same persons were priests and “hojambasides”. He banned those who did not obey this regulation from the priesthood. When ordaining priests, he strictly observed the Apostolic and Council rules. He never ordained priests or other clergy for money. He elevated to the priesthood only those who were worthy by the gift of the Holy Spirit. Moreover, he did not ordain anyone who had not reached the appropriate age, despite the fact that there was a need for priests in his diocese. Testing those who wanted to become priests, he sent all those who were not sufficiently prepared to monasteries so that they could spend the money on education and training that they would previously have paid for ordination. He also did not ordain deacons as priests without first teaching them the correct performance of all church services, and distributed the Catechism to all clergy for study. In all the cities and villages of his region, he installed large baptismal fonts so that holy baptism would be performed according to all the rules of our Holy Orthodox Church. The holy hierarch performed many other instructive and saving deeds. He built schools throughout his diocese and shepherded his verbal flock with godly, fatherly care.
But in 1768, during the reign of Sultan Mustafa, a war began between the Russians and the Turks, and the Russian fleet appeared near the Peloponnese. Father St. Macaria, foreseeing and fearing tragic consequences, took him and his entire family and headed to the island of Zakynthos. On the way, they encountered pirates who took everything they had from them. Fortunately, without taking any of their lives. So, after much suffering they came to Zakynthos. The inhabitants of the island received them with kindness and sympathy and provided them with clothing and food. They showed special honor to St. Macarius, who was revered as the new apostle of Christ.
Later, Macarius went to the island of Kefalonia in order to venerate the relics of St. Gerasima. Three months later he returned to Zakynthos and lived there for another three years. He then went to the island of Hydra, where he remained in the monastery of the Blessed Virgin Mary until peace was restored between the Russians and the Turks in 1774.
At this time, the Synod of Constantinople ordained a new Archbishop of Corinth. But in order to soften the grief of St. Macarius, the Synod allowed him to serve unhindered as a bishop, wherever he was.
A year later, St. Macarius went to Chios. From there he soon went to Holy Athos, where he had long been striving to get there. However, he did not find a calm spiritual haven of salvation on Athos. On the contrary, he was met by a raging sea. He was immediately approached by those who performed funeral services on Sundays and asked him if he approved of their practice. He answered in the negative. When the former Patriarch of Alexandria Matthew and St. died in the Kutlumush monastery. Macarius was invited to serve a memorial service for him on the fortieth day, which fell on Sunday; he not only refused to serve, but wrote the following to those close to the deceased patriarch: “Why do you prefer to serve memorial services on Sunday and skip other days of the week, and thus violate the rules and regulations Churches that prohibit doing this? I have never and will never perform funeral services for the dead on Sunday.” After this, those close to the deceased patriarch began to threaten him and sent his letter to the Ecumenical Patriarch.
Distressed by all this, St. Macarius left Athos and returned to Chios. From here he headed to Patmos, where he met and became friends with the holy fathers Niphon of Chios, Gregory of Nisyros and Athanasius of Armenia. All of them also left Saint Athos several years earlier due to scandals associated with funeral services.
A year later, Father St. Macaria died. At the request of his brothers, St. Macarius came to Hydra, and together they headed to Corinth. Here they peacefully divided their father's inheritance under the supervision of St. Macaria. He gave his brothers his full share, and after that he asked them to bring him records of all his father’s debtors. He threw these records into the fire, thus freeing a huge number of people from debt. Whole families of debtors praised their benefactor, St. Macarius and they called him a saint.
After this St. Macarius returned to Chios. Here he received letters of recommendation and went with them to Smyrna to meet with John Mavrogordatos. The last we heard about St. Macarius, received him with respect and reverence. As a man of God. He not only gladly extended the hospitality of St. Macarius in his home, but also gave him money for the publication of the holy Philokalia, a wonderful spiritual book. Under the influence of the teachings of St. Macarius, John turned his house into a holy dwelling, where vespers and matins were constantly served, and all fasts were strictly observed.
Later St. Macarius returned to Chios, wanting to spend the rest of his life in the desert (hesychasterion), doing spiritual work. He bought the hermitage of St. from the city of Chios. Peter in the northern part of the island and settled there with his Chios disciple Jacob. This monk served St. Macarius until his holy death.
At the same time, the Chios hieromonk Niphon, with whom St. Macarius met earlier, together with several monks he went to the island of Ikaria. There they tried to build a monastery for themselves. But they didn't have enough money. St. Macarius helped them through donations from benefactors of Smyrna and Chios. Thanks to this help, a small communal monastery was built on the island. St. Macarius went there and lived there for some time with the holy fathers, his friends. He then returned to his desert on Chios. The fertile nature of this place had a very beneficial effect on him, especially in view of his poor health, due to which he had previously constantly suffered. Living in the desert, he felt good and, being away from noisy cities and worldly bustle, enjoyed the silence.
As one of the ancient Fathers of the Church wrote: “The holy people of God, fearing harm from vanity and arrogance, strive in any way to hide their virtues from human eyes. Therefore, we can only know those achievements of theirs that God shows for the benefit of others, or that become known later, thanks to their disciples.” This is the truth. We can also say about St. Macarius. Only God the Omniscient saw and knew his struggle and spiritual exploits in the desert, for, striving to please only Him, St. Macarius hid them more carefully than a vicious person hides his crimes. That's why we write here about St. Macarius only what many have definitely learned, and what every modern resident of Chios knows: about his constant long fasts, in addition to the canonical ones, which he observed with great severity, as well as the dogmas of faith, without any doubt. That the Holy Canons are not human institutions, but of the Holy Spirit. He was completely different from today's Christians, who show indifference and contempt for the Holy Canons, considering them the teachings of common people, and not written according to the reasoning and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, constantly shamelessly violating them, eating fish and meat and saying at the same time that God is nowhere did not command a person to fast.
St. Macarius, who observed both the canonical and additional fasts that he imposed on himself, considered wine and oil to be two main enemies, claimed that they were harmful to health, and ate them only on Saturday and Sunday. On other days, he ate vegetables and (flour products, such as pasta) boiled in water. About fasting, all-night vigils, prostrations and unceasing prayers of St. We know Macarius for sure from the stories of many people, especially his disciple Jacob. And there is no doubt that St. Macarius, through such an ascetic life, achieved the likeness of God and was kindled with the fire of Divine love. Proof of this are the wonderful works of Divine grace that are still accomplished today through turning to him. Thus, the exploits of St. Macarius, invisible to many during his lifetime, are now confirmed by events that are obvious and known to everyone. And as Holy Father Isaac the Syrian writes: “It is impossible for those who tirelessly lead such a lifestyle to remain without the great gifts of God, since they have acquired inner attention, sobriety of heart and freedom from worrying about worldly affairs. The soul that labors and ascends in its quest for God acquires cherubic eyes. By which he contemplates the eternally heavenly.” So, according to the words of the Divine teacher St. Isaac, St. Macarius, with his Divine gifts and his pure prayer, revealed himself to be a true equal-angel contemplator of heavenly things.
The Holy Fathers teach that prayer is a conversation with God. Everyone who heard St. Macarius in church reading the psalms and the Holy Gospel, they confess that his reading was truly a conversation with God. Continuous, quiet, calm, it undoubtedly reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. If we admit this about his reading and prayer in church, then how much higher his cell prayer should have been, more spiritual, detached from everything material and human. Undoubtedly, at this time his mind was entirely directed towards God, and the ears of God reached not only what came from the mouth of the saint. Macarius, but also all his reverent and beautiful thoughts.
All this is good and worthy of praise. But this is a consequence of concern for one’s own salvation and does not yet prove love for one’s neighbor, without which, as the Divine Apostle Paul says, everything is useless and in vain. The Lord gives us in the Gospel the concept of such love: “ Love your neighbor as yourself» (Matthew 19:19). And the divinely inspired Macarius fulfilled his duty to his neighbor. He constantly repeated the words of the Apostle of the Gentiles: “ For we are partners with God» (1 Cor. 3:9), meaning that we must help our brothers with all our might in the salvation of their souls. Therefore, he sought to benefit all Christians and prepare for them the path to the Kingdom of Heaven with his fatherly advice, instructions and instructive books. Thus, Theodore of Byzantium, Demetrius of the Peloponnese and many others were inspired to martyrdom after reading the composition of St. Macarius’ book “Martyrology” about the spiritual exploits of the martyrs. And we heard the layman from Enos say that he had carefully read the Philokalia twice and intended to study it a third time.
How great was the desire of St. Macarius shows the following for the salvation of all Christians: after reading the small book “Christian Apologia” and being moved by it, he collected 500 copper coins to reprint this instructive book.
It should be added that St. Macarius. While in monastic solitude in the desert of St. Peter, constantly preached to the parishioners of the Church of St. Peter, as well as to all those who gathered from other places to this church for the Divine Liturgy. During fasts, he visited other churches in the area, where he preached the word of God calmly and meekly, like the apostles, of whom he was a strict follower. Undoubtedly, his sermons were fruitful. Firstly, his listeners saw before them the Bishop of Corinth, dressed in very poor vestments and addressing them with humility. Secondly, instead of receiving money for his work, he offered monetary assistance to those in need: one to pay debts, another for his daughter’s wedding, and many others for other needs. The following incident demonstrates the fruitfulness of the preaching and teaching of the Saint: a woman from a neighboring village found three pounds of silk and was looking for the one who had lost it in order to return it. To those who were surprised, she said: “How can I leave this silk when the blessed one will never allow us to do this?” When they asked her who this blessed one was, she answered: “Archbishop of Corinth. He taught us that if we find something that belongs to another, we must return it to the person who lost it, otherwise we will sin. And moreover, we should not ask for a reward for the return of the loss."
However, this great love of St. Macarius to his neighbors, his sympathy for their needs began to disturb his peace a lot, especially when, on the advice of friends, those in need began to come to him not only from nearby places, but also from distant areas. And since some of them needed significant help, the holy father was forced to turn to wealthy people for alms for the needy. Since he did not want to annoy others, but also could not let go empty-handed of those who came to him for help, he was forced to temporarily leave the island of Chios for the island of Patmos.
Let us now say a few more words about his publications. Book of St. Macarius “On the Constant Communion of the Divine Sacraments” contains nothing more than statements from the Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, the canons of the Apostles and Councils, statements of the Holy Fathers and explanations of them in modern Greek. They all contain the same teaching that frequent Communion of the Divine Sacraments is holy and leads to salvation. Thus, this book is completely legal and canonical. But for a while, injustice and anger took over. So, one stupid Athonite monk, after reading this book, sent it to the Ecumenical Patriarch in Constantinople, writing as much bad things as he could about it. Procopius of the Peloponnese, formerly Bishop of Smyrna. He was elevated to the patriarchal throne at that time. Angered by the accusations, he, on behalf of the Synod, condemned the book of St. Macarius as uncanonical and harmful and threatened to impose severe penance on those who dare to read it. The monks of Saint Athos fought with all their might to have the patriarch’s decision revised, but to no avail. Later, when Neophytos from Smyrna became patriarch (in 1789), a close friend of St. Macarius, he reversed his predecessor's decision regarding the book. And he sent the saint the following letter:
“Holy Metropolitan, former Corinthian, beloved brother and co-hidden Macarius in the Holy Spirit, grace and peace from God for your bishopric! Regarding your work “On the Constant Communion of the Holy Sacraments,” which you published, we inform you that it was examined by the Synod, carefully studied and approved. It is ecclesiologically legal and does not contain anything that prevents a Christian from being worthy through repentance and true confession to partake of the Most Pure and Terrible Mysteries of Christ. Your named book was approved by the Synod as instructive and leading to salvation. And all who wish to purchase and read it are free to do so, and should be guided by their confessors in any questions that arise.
Due to rumors being spread that a church decree has been issued condemning this work of yours, which is why pious Christians avoid reading it, we have written this letter and, by the will of the Holy Spirit, have issued a decree canceling the previous one, that all Christians who have read, are reading or will read this book of yours, namely “On the Constant Communion of the Holy Sacraments”, are forgiven and blessed by the Almighty Lord and freed from all church penances and curses, and have the blessing of all the holy and divinely inspired Fathers of the Church. Now, knowing this, leave all prejudice towards your work, for which you will receive a reward from God. May His grace always be with your holiness.".
Although St. Macarius published many instructive books; this book “On Constant Communion...”, written by him with great zeal, can rightly be called the source of eternal life.
This is all we wanted to say about the publications of our Holy Father. Now let's talk about his other pious deeds. In the field of Christ, that is, in martyrdom, Jesus Christ himself is the Judge and bestows crowns. A fighter is one who suffers and dies for the glory of Christ, and his opponent is the devil with his tools, enemies and persecutors of the holy Christian faith. True. That fighters do not enter the arena of martyrdom without fortitude. But as the Lord says: “ The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak» (Matthew 26:41). Gregory the Theologian argues that words of support bring considerable courage to the souls of those who have chosen martyrdom. Everyone has a responsibility to provide this support. And St. Macarius did just that. Fulfilling the gospel commandment: “ And he who comes to Me I will not cast out» (John 6:37), he readily received everyone and not only encouraged with words, but also left in his desert for many days those who needed further preparation. Teaching them and strengthening them with fasts and prayers. Among those in whose souls St. Macarius lit the fire of Divine love; Polydorus of Cypriot stands out especially (he suffered martyrdom at the hands of the Turks on September 3, 1794 in New Ephesus). He actually showed the good changes that had occurred in him. So, one evening he stood at the door of the hotel and loudly exclaimed: “The Lord will bless you for all the good that you have done to me.” Another time when Fr. When Jacob called Polydorus to dinner, he saw him in a distant place crying and sobbing. He told St. about this. Macarius, and the Saint said: “Let him cry, for crying is dear to God and leads to salvation.”
The same influence of St. Macarius influenced the soul of Theodore of Byzantium. Theodore was previously afraid of death, but thanks to St. Macarius, he overcame his cowardice and boldly rushed towards death for the sake of Christ (he came from the town of Neochori (a suburb of Constantinople, and in ancient times called Byzantium), and was hanged by the Turks on February 17, 1795 in Mytilene).
Also St. Macarius influenced the immature, uneducated soul of Demetrius of the Peloponnese. When Demetrius was led to execution, he turned to heaven and exclaimed: “I thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, for deigning me unworthy of this blessed moment of martyrdom” (he was beheaded in Tripolis Peloponnese on April 13, 1803).
We think that we have the right to assert that St. Macarius, this mentor of the glorious martyrs, in fact himself belongs to them. St. Basil the Great calls the martyrs saints. Therefore, our Saint Macarius, who for many days and nights instructed and strengthened those who were about to enter the arena of martyrdom, the saint who kindled in their hearts the fire of love for Christ and the desire to suffer for His sake, is even more worthy to be considered equal to the martyrs. And just as the righteous crown was placed on the heads of the martyrs, because, according to the word of the Apostle Paul, they ended the struggle and preserved the faith, so the righteous crown was placed on the head of St. Macaria. Who, with his instructions and zeal in word and deed, was with them, their comrade-in-arms and helper.
But the time came when this Divine Father had to pay the common, inevitable duty of nature. As soon as he completed the collection of lives of holy ascetics and martyrs, ancient and modern, which he entitled “New Limonarion,” he began to worry about the publication of this book. However, he suddenly suffered from apoplexy, and the entire right half of his body was paralyzed. His kind and beneficent hand stopped moving.
Thus suffering and weaving his crown in patience, he thanked the benevolent God and wept incessantly, saying that God had punished him for his sins and he still had not repented. We came to him one day and saw him crying and lamenting that, having been punished by God, he could not repent. We told him: “Reverend Father, it is true that you do not repent, for your conscience cannot condemn you for violating the Divine commandments, since you have kept them all your life.” But still, tears flowed like a river from his eyes. And so it was for all eight months from September 1 to April 17 - the day that became the last day of his earthly life.
At this time, Christians of all ages and classes came to him to receive his holy blessing. He confessed and received the Holy Sacraments daily. His close friend, Saint Nilos Kalognomos, stayed next to him, talking and consoling. They thought together and philosophized about the spiritual and contemplative, since the mind of St. Macarius remained intact until the Saint's last breath.
April 4/17, 1795 St. Macarius gave up his spirit in the hands of God and entered the ranks of saints, martyrs, ascetics and saints.
His body was buried on the south side of St. Petra. What he wished and predicted came true. When two years before the death of St. Macarius, his cell attendant Jacob fell ill and was already on the verge of death, the brethren asked the saint. Macarius, where he would like them to dig a grave for Jacob. When the saint heard this, he was deeply moved and said: “I want a grave to be dug first for me, and then for this good old man.”
And so it happened. Only after the transfer of the holy relics of Macarius took place, his disciple Jacob died and was buried in the same grave.
The omnipotent and all-creating grace of the Holy Spirit, revealed in the great miracles of St. Macarius, confirms that he pleased God and achieved holiness. Let no one doubt the reality of these miracles, for the stories about them were recorded not in some distant and foreign countries, but in the city of Chios itself during the lifetime of those who suffered mortally and incurably, but were healed by turning to the Saint with faith, and who confessed and proclaimed these healings publicly.
Zerubbabel - old, under his leadership the Jews restored the Temple in Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity.
“Hojambasides” is a word of Turkish origin that denoted the heads of communities or councils of elders. Their main duty was representation before the Turkish authorities.
As other authors point out, not only Macarius, but also other Peloponnesian bishops were replaced at that time by order of the Sultan. Following the outbreak of the Russian-Turkish war. The Greeks in the Peloponnese, encouraged by Russia, rebelled against the Turks. The Turks immediately suspected the Peloponnesian bishops of inciting the uprising. These suspicions against Macarius were unfounded, since he forbade the clergy of his diocese to participate in politics and was occupied exclusively with spiritual affairs all his life. Depriving him of his diocese, the Ecumenical Patriarch decided to assign him an annual allowance of 100 gracias.
Venerable Macarius the Great, Egyptian
Born in Egypt around 301. With love and zeal, he served his parents in old age, fulfilling the commandment to honor parents, and after their death he became completely free from everyday worries. Under the guidance of an experienced elder monk, the Monk Macarius began to undergo silent monastic life and handicraft. At first he settled in a deserted place not far from the village where he lived, then the monk moved to Mount Nitria in the Paran desert.
After living for three years in the desert, he went to the Monk Anthony the Great (U 356), the father of Egyptian monasticism, whom he had heard about while still living in the world, and was eager to see him. The Monk Abba Anthony lovingly received Blessed Macarius, who became his devoted disciple and follower. The Monk Macarius lived with him for a long time, and then, on the advice of the holy Abba, he retired to the Skete desert (in the north-western part of Egypt) and there he shone so brightly with his exploits that they began to call him the “old man”, since, having barely reached thirty years of age, he showed himself to be an experienced, mature monk. Here the Monk Macarius had to fight demons day and night, and they screamed that they could not defeat him, because he had a great weapon - humility.
When the saint turned 40 years old, he was ordained a priest and made abbot (abba) of the monks living in the Skete desert. During these years, the Monk Macarius often visited the great Anthony, receiving instruction in spiritual conversations. Together with two other disciples of the Monk Anthony, the Monk Macarius was honored to be present at his blessed death, and as a kind of rich inheritance, he received the staff of the Monk Anthony, with which he supported his weak body on the road, dejected by old age and fasting exploits. Together with this staff, the Monk Macarius received the spirit of Anthony the Great, as the prophet Elisha once received such after Elijah the prophet. With the power of his spirit, the Monk Macarius performed many wondrous miracles. One day the Monk Macarius spoke with the skull of the chief pagan priest, who spoke about his torment and about the more severe and fierce ones that befell those who knew the name of God, but rejected Him and did not keep His commandments.
Due to the multitude of people who came to him, the Monk Macarius had little time to devote himself to the thought of God at a distance. Therefore, the monk dug a deep cave under his cell, about half a stadium long, where he hid from those who constantly came to him and violated his thoughts of God and prayer. The Monk Macarius achieved such boldness in his walk before God that, through his prayer, the Lord raised the dead. Despite such a height of achieved godlikeness, he continued to maintain extraordinary humility.
During the reign of the Arian Emperor Valens (364-378), the Monk Macarius the Great, together with the Monk Macarius of Alexandria, was persecuted by the Arian bishop Luke. Both elders were captured and put on a ship, taken to a deserted island where pagans lived. There, through the prayers of the saints, the priest’s daughter received healing, after which the priest himself and all the inhabitants of the island received holy baptism. Having learned about what had happened, the Arian bishop was ashamed and allowed the elders to return to their deserts. The meekness, humility and mercy of the saint transformed human souls. St. spent 60 years. Macarius in the world-dead desert. The monk spent most of his time in conversation with God, often in a state of spiritual admiration. The Abba transformed his abundant and ascetic experience into profound theological works. 50 conversations and 7 ascetic words remained the precious heritage of the spiritual wisdom of St. Macarius the Great. The highest good and goal of man - the union of souls with God - is the main idea in the works of St. Macarius.
The monk lived to be 97 years old, and shortly before his death (U ca. 390-391) the Monks Anthony and Pachomius appeared to him, conveying the joyful news of his imminent transition to the blessed heavenly abodes. The monk began to prepare for his death. Nine days later, a Cherub with many Angels appeared to the Monk Macarius. When the holy soul of the Monk Macarius was taken by the Cherub and ascended into heaven, some of the fathers saw with their mental eyes that the air demons stood in the distance and screamed that the saint had escaped them. Macarius.
Today is the day of remembrance of the saint of the Alexandrian Orthodox Church - St. Macarius of Egypt. The Monk Macarius of Egypt was born around 301 in Egypt. The saint's father was a presbyter and was called Abraham, but his mother bore the name Sarah. Since the marriage of Macarius’s parents was barren, they agreed to live in spiritual cohabitation, not carnal, decorating their lives with many virtues. At that time, barbarians attacked Egypt and plundered all the property of the inhabitants of Egypt, including Abraham and Sarah. One day, when Macarius’s father was sleeping, the holy patriarch Abraham appeared to him in a dream, who began to console him in misfortune and at the same time predicted that God would soon bless him with the birth of a son. It was then that Macarius’s parents moved to the village of Ptinapor in Lower Egypt. After some time, Presbyter Abraham became very ill. But in a dream an Angel appeared to him and said: “God has had mercy on you, Abraham. He heals you of your illness and grants you His favor, for your wife Sarah will give birth to a son, the same name as blessedness. He will be the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, living on earth in angelic form, and will lead many to God.” Soon after this, Sarah conceived in old age, and, after a certain time, she had a son, who was named Macarius, which means “blessed.”
When the youth Macarius reached adulthood and learned to understand the Holy Scriptures, he wanted to lead a monastic life. But his parents, forgetting about the prophecy, persuaded him to enter into marriage. Macarius obeyed, but after the wedding he did not touch his bride. A few days later, one of Macarius’ relatives happened to go to Mount Nitria. Macarius also went with him. The Nitrian Desert bordered Libya and Ethiopia and received its name from the neighboring mountain, where a lot of nitrate, or saltpeter, was found in the lakes. In Nitria, in a dream vision, a wondrous man appeared before the saint, shining with light, who said: “Macarius! Look carefully at these deserted places, for you are destined to dwell here.” Waking up from sleep, Macarius began to reflect on what was said to him in the vision. At that time, no one had yet settled in the desert, except for Anthony the Great and the unknown hermit Paul of Thebes.
Immediately upon the return of the blessed one, his wife died, passing away blameless into eternal life. Macarius thanked God, thinking at the same time: “Pay attention to yourself, Macarius, and take care of your soul, for you too will soon have to leave this earthly life.” And from that time on, Macarius no longer began to care about anything earthly, constantly remaining in the temple of the Lord and reading the Holy Scriptures. Meanwhile, Abraham, the father of Macarius, lost his sight from old age and illness. Blessed Macarius looked after his father with love and zeal. Soon the elder departed to the Lord, and six months later Sarah, Macarius’ mother, also died. The Monk Macarius buried his parents, and then distributed all his property to commemorate the souls of the deceased.
Having thus freed himself from all everyday worries, Macarius came to an experienced elder, who lovingly received the humble young man, showed him the beginnings of silent monastic life and taught him the usual monastic needlework - basket weaving. He also arranged a separate cell for Macarius, not far from his own. Some time later, the bishop of that country came to the village of Ptinapor and, having learned from the inhabitants of the village about the exploits of Blessed Macarius, he called him to himself, making him a clergyman of the local church, although Macarius was still young. But Saint Macarius, burdened by the position of cleric, left and settled in a deserted place. One reverent man came here to him and began to serve Macarius.
The devil, a hater of all good, seeing how he was being defeated by the young monk, began to vigorously fight him, plotting various intrigues: sometimes instilling in him sinful thoughts, sometimes attacking him in the form of various monsters. When Macarius was awake at night, standing in prayer, the devil shook his cell to the very foundation, and sometimes, turning into a snake, crawled along the ground and furiously rushed at the saint. But blessed Macarius, protecting himself with prayer and the sign of the cross, considered all these intrigues to be nothing. Then the devil taught one woman to slander Macarius for allegedly dishonoring her. The relatives, believing her, beat the blessed man to a pulp, and then demanded that he now support their daughter. Having recovered, the blessed one began to make baskets and sent the money from their sale to feed the woman. When the time came for her to give birth, the righteous judgment of God befell her. For a very long time she could not get rid of the burden, sobbing bitterly from severe pain, until she admitted to the slander. Hearing that the hermit was innocent of her shame, the inhabitants tried to fall at his feet with tears, asking for forgiveness, so that the wrath of God would not befall them, but Macarius did not want glory from the people and hastily retired to Mount Nitria, where he once had a vision in a dream.
Having lived there for three years in one cave, he went to Anthony the Great, for he had long wanted to see him. Received with love by the Monk Anthony, Macarius became his disciple and lived with him for a long time, receiving instructions and trying to imitate his father in everything. Then, on the advice of the Monk Anthony, Macarius retired to a solitary life in Skete. The hermitage desert was located a day's journey (25–30 versts) from the Nitrian Mountain, in the northwestern part of Egypt. It was a waterless, rocky desert, a favorite place for Egyptian desert dwellers. Here Macarius shone so brightly with his exploits and was so successful in monastic life that he surpassed many of the brethren and received from them the name “elder youth.” Macarius had to fight demons day and night. Sometimes the demons clearly turned into various monsters and rushed at the saint, sometimes they raised an invisible battle against the saint, instilling in him various passionate and unclean thoughts. However, they could not overcome this courageous fighter of truth.
It happened one day that Macarius collected many palm branches in the desert for weaving baskets and carried them to his cell. On the way, he was met by the devil with a sickle and wanted to hit the saint, but could not. Then he said to Macarius: “Macarius! Because of you I suffer great sorrow, because I am unable to overcome you. Here I am, doing everything you do. You fast, and I don’t eat anything at all; You are awake, and I never sleep. However, there is one thing in which you are superior to me. This is humility. That’s why I can’t fight you.”
When the Monk Macarius turned 40 years old, he received from God the gifts of miracles, prophecy and power over unclean spirits. At the same time, he was ordained a priest and made abbot (abba) of the monks living in the Skete. Various legends circulated among the fathers about the exploits of Saint Macarius, this heavenly man whom everyone called the Great. They say that the monk constantly ascended with his mind to the heights and most of his time directed his mind to God rather than to the objects of this world.
Macarius often visited his teacher Anthony the Great, conducting spiritual conversations with him. Together with two other disciples of the Monk Anthony, Macarius was honored to be present at his blessed death, and, as some kind of rich inheritance, received Anthony’s staff. Together with this staff of Anthony, the Monk Macarius received the spirit of Anthony the Great, as the prophet Elisha once received such after Elijah the Prophet. By the power of this spirit, Macarius performed many wondrous miracles. Thus, he destroyed the machinations of sorcerers, returning people to their original appearance after the evil eye and magical transformations, healed incurable diseases with prayers and holy oil, and cast out demons many times. The Monk Macarius received such blessed power from God that he could even resurrect the dead. With this gift, he put to shame heretics and restored the truth in complicated cases involving murders and unpaid debts.
The prologue also tells the following about St. Macarius. One day he was on the road and, when night overtook him, he entered a pagan cemetery to spend the night there. Finding there an old bone of a deceased pagan, the monk placed it at his head. The demons, seeing such boldness of Macarius, took up arms against him and, wanting to frighten him, began to shout, calling the bone by a woman’s name: “Go and wash in the bathhouse.” The demon who was in this dead bone answered this call: “I have a wanderer above me.” The monk was not afraid of the demonic wiles, but boldly began to beat the bone he had taken, saying: “Get up and walk if you can.” The demons were put to shame.
Another time, the Monk Macarius walked through the desert and found a dried human skull on the ground. Macarius asked the skull: “Who are you?” “I was the leader of the pagan priests who lived in this place. When you, Abba Macarius, filled with the Spirit of God, having mercy on those in torment in hell, pray for us, we then receive some relief.” - “What relief do you get and what is your torment?” “How far the sky is from the earth,” the skull answered with a groan, “so great is the fire among which we are, scorched from everywhere from head to toe. At the same time, we cannot see each other's faces. When you pray for us, we see a little of each other, and this serves us as some consolation.” Hearing such an answer, the monk shed tears and said: “Cursed is the day when a person transgressed the Divine commandments.” And again he asked: “Are there any other torments worse than yours?” “We, who did not know God,” answered the skull, “albeit a little, but still feel the mercy of God. Those who knew the name of God, but rejected Him and did not keep His commandments, suffer much more severe and cruel torments below us.” After this, the Monk Macarius took that skull, buried it in the ground and left.
Many different people came to Saint Macarius, even from distant countries. Some asked for his prayers, blessings and fatherly guidance, others for healing from their ailments. Because of this crowd, Macarius now had little time to devote himself to the thought of God in solitude. Therefore, he dug a deep cave under his cell, where he hid for prayer. His monastery, as Rufinus narrates, was located lower, in another desert; there were many brothers in it.
One day Macarius was sitting on the road leading to the monastery. Suddenly he sees the devil walking in human form, dressed in shaggy clothes and covered with pumpkins. Macarius asked: “Where are you going, breathing malice?” - “I’m going to tempt the brethren.” - “Why did you put pumpkins on yourself?” - “I bring food to the brethren.” - “Are there food in all the pumpkins? - asked the reverend. “In everyone. If someone doesn’t like one, I will offer another, a third, etc., so that everyone tries at least one.” Having said this, the devil left. The monk remained on the road. Seeing that the devil was returning, Macarius asked again: “Did you go well to the monastery?” “It’s bad,” answered the devil, “and how could I achieve success? All the monks turned against me, and no one accepted me.” - “Do you really not have a single monk who would obey you?” – Macarius asked again. “I have only one,” answered the devil. - When I come to him, he spins around me like a top. - “What is his name?” - “Theopempt!” Then Abba Macarius went into the distant desert to the named monastery. The brethren, hearing that the saint was coming to them, came out to meet him with palm branches, and each of them prepared his cell, thinking that the monk would want to stay with him. But Macarius the Great asked the monks who Theopempt was here, and went in to him. He received the saint with great joy. Left alone with Theopemptus, Saint Macarius wisely questioned him and learned that he was overcome by the spirit of fornication and other sins. Having taught the monk soul-helping instructions, the blessed one returned to his desert. There, sitting by the road, he again saw the devil going to the monastery, and he admitted that now all the monks were against him.
Once, when the Monk Macarius was praying, there was a voice to him that said: “Macarius! You have not yet achieved such perfection in a virtuous life as two women living together in the nearest city.” Having received such a revelation, the monk took his staff and went to that city. Having found a house there where the said women lived, he called both of them to him and said to them: “For your sake, I took upon myself such a great feat, coming here from the distant desert, for I want to know your good deeds, which I ask you to tell me about.” , without hiding anything.” “Believe us, honest father,” the women answered, “that last night we shared our bed with our husbands. What virtues do you wish to find in us?” But the monk insisted that they tell him their way of life. Then the women said: “We were not related to each other before, but then we married two brothers, and for 15 years now we have all been living in the same house; During our entire life together, we did not say a single malicious or bad word to each other and never quarreled with each other. Recently we decided to leave our carnal spouses and retire to the company of holy virgins serving God. However, we cannot beg our husbands to let us go. Then we made a covenant with God and among ourselves - not to utter a single worldly word until our death.” Having listened to their story, the Monk Macarius said: “Truly God is not looking for a virgin, nor a married woman, nor a monk, nor a layman, but for a free intention, accepting it as the deed itself, and gives the grace of the Holy Spirit acting in man to the voluntary will of every person.” and governing the life of everyone who wants to be saved.”
During the life of Macarius the Great, also called the Egyptian, another venerable Macarius, of Alexandria, shone with holiness. He was a presbyter in a monastery called Cell. This area was located in the desert between Nitria and Skete. The ascetics of Mount Nitria retired to the desert of Kelii after they had already established themselves in monastic life. Here they practiced silence, and their cells were significantly removed from each other. This blessed Macarius of Alexandria often came to the Monk Macarius of Egypt, and they walked together through the desert many times. When the Arian Emperor Valens reigned, he initiated a very severe persecution of the Orthodox. By royal order, Lucius, an Arian bishop, arrived in Alexandria and deposed St. Peter, the successor of St. Athanasius the Great, from his episcopal see. He also sent soldiers into the desert to capture and exile all the desert fathers. Among the first, both Saints Macarius were captured and taken to a remote island, the inhabitants of which worshiped idols. One of the priests who was on that island had a daughter possessed by a demon, and the monks, having prayed, drove him out and healed the girl. Her father immediately believed in Christ and received holy baptism. Also, all the inhabitants of that island turned to Christ. Having learned about what had happened, the wicked Bishop Lucius was greatly ashamed that he had expelled such great fathers. Therefore, he secretly sent for the blessed Macarii and all the holy fathers who were with them to be returned to their former habitats.
Meanwhile, many people came to the Monk Macarius the Great from everywhere, so the need arose to build a hotel for wanderers and the sick. This is what the saint arranged. Every day he usually healed one sick person, anointing him with holy oil and sending him home completely healthy. The monk did this so that other sick people, who were not immediately healed by him, would live with him for some time and thereby receive healing not only of the body, but also of the soul, while listening to his divinely inspired teachings.
One day the Monk Macarius went from Skete to Mount Nitria with one of his disciples. When they were already approaching the mountain, the monk said to the disciple: “Go ahead of me.” The student went and met a pagan priest carrying a large log. Seeing him, the monk shouted: “Listen, you demon! Where are you going? The priest beat the monk so badly that he barely survived. Grabbing the thrown log, the priest ran away. Soon he met the Monk Macarius, who lovingly said: “Save yourself, hard worker, save yourself.” The priest stopped and asked: “What good did you see in me, greeting me with such words?” “I see that you are working,” answered the monk. Then the priest said: “I was touched, father, by your words. I see that you are a man of God. “Before you, another monk met me and scolded me, and I beat him to death.” And with these words the priest fell at the saint’s feet, hugging them and saying: “I will not leave you, father, until you convert me to Christianity and make me a monk.” And he went along with Saint Macarius. After walking a little, they came to the place where the monk lay beaten by the priest and found him barely alive. Taking it, they brought it to the church. The fathers, seeing the pagan priest together with the Monk Macarius, were greatly amazed. Then, having baptized him, they made him a monk, and for his sake many pagans converted to Christianity. Saint Macarius gave the following instruction on this occasion: “An evil word makes the good evil, but a good word makes the evil good.”
One day the Monk Macarius came to the monastery of Abba Pambo. Here the elders asked the blessed one to give a word for the edification of the brethren. Saint Macarius began to say: “Forgive me, for I am a bad monk; but I saw monks. So one day I was sitting in the Skete in my cell, and the thought came to me to go into the inner desert. Five years later I went there and found a huge swamp, in the middle of which I saw an island. At this time the animals came to drink water. Among the animals I noticed two naked people and thought that I was seeing disembodied spirits. Seeing that I was very frightened, the people calmed me down and said that they were from the monastery, but it had been thirty years since they left the monastery. One of them was an Egyptian, the other a Libyan. Then they asked me what situation the world was in now, whether the rivers were still filled with their streams, whether the earth abounded in its usual fruits. I answered them: “Yes.” Then he asked them how I could become a monk. They answered me: “If a person does not renounce everything that is in the world, he cannot be a monk.” To this I said: “I am weak and therefore cannot be like you.” “If you cannot be like us,” they said, “then sit in your cell and lament your sins.” And again I asked them if they did not suffer from cold in winter and scorching heat in summer. They answered me: “The Lord God has given us such bodies that we do not suffer from frost in winter, nor from heat in summer.” “That’s why I told you, brethren,” the Monk Macarius finished his speech, “that I have not yet become a monk, but I have seen monks.”
One day the Monk Macarius was asked by the Skete fathers how he achieved the fact that his body always remained thin? The Monk Macarius gave the following answer: “Just as a poker, which is used to turn over burning wood and brushwood in a stove, is always scorched by fire, so in a person who always directs his mind to the Lord and always remembers the terrible torment in the fire of Gehenna, this fear not only consumes the body, but it also dries up the bones.”
Then the brethren asked the monk about prayer. He gave them the following instruction: “Prayer does not require verbosity, but you must raise your hands, saying: Lord! as You wish and as You Yourself know, have mercy on me. If the enemy raises a sinful war in the soul, one must only say: Lord, have mercy. The Lord knows what is good for us and will show us mercy.”
Another time, Abba Isaiah asked the monk: “Tell me, father, some instruction for the benefit of the soul.” “Run from people,” the Monk Macarius answered him. “That is, sit in your cell and lament your sins.” He said to his disciple Paphnutius the Great: “Do not offend anyone, do not slander anyone, by doing this you will be saved.” The saint also said: “If you want to be saved, be like a dead man: do not be angry when you are dishonored, do not be arrogant when you are praised. By doing this you will be saved.” To the elders who lived on Mount Nitria, the monk said: “Brothers! let us cry, and let tears flow from our eyes, cleansing us before we cross to where the tears will burn our bodies in agony.”
One day the Monk Macarius found a thief in his cell. Outside, near the cell, a donkey was tied, onto which the thief was placing stolen things. The monk, seeing this, did not let the thief know that he was a householder, and even began to help him take things and put them on the donkey. Then he let him go in peace, thinking like this: “We didn’t bring anything with us into this world, and we can’t take anything away from here. The Lord has given us everything, and as He wishes, so everything happens. May God be blessed in everything!”
The fathers said about this Venerable Macarius that he became, as it were, an earthly god, for, just as God, although he sees the whole world, does not punish sinners, so the Monk Macarius covered the infirmities of men that he saw. It happened that even being far from his children, he appeared to them during demonic temptations and miraculously helped them avoid falls. The prayer of Macarius the Great had such power with God. One day the monk himself, being very tired, prayed fervently and was transported across a great distance to where he needed to go.
Now is the time to tell us about the blessed death of Macarius of Egypt, which Serapion, the writer of his life, told us about. The time of death did not remain unknown to the monk. Shortly before his repose, Saints Anthony the Great and Pachomius the Great appeared to him in a vision. Those who appeared announced to the saint that on the ninth day he would depart into blessed eternal life. Then the divine Macarius called his disciples and said to them: “Children! Now the time has come for my departure from here, and I hand you over to the goodness of God. So, preserve the fatherly statutes and traditions of the fasters.” Having then laid his hands on his disciples, having sufficiently taught them and prayed for them, the monk began to prepare for his death. When the ninth day arrived, the Cherub appeared to Saint Macarius with many Angels and with the saints and took his immortal soul to the heavenly abodes.
The describer of the life of Saint Macarius, Serapion, heard from the Monk Paphnutius, one of the saint’s disciples, that when the soul of Macarius ascended to heaven, some of the fathers saw with their mental eyes that air demons stood in the distance and shouted: “Oh, what glory have you been awarded, Macarius! ” The saint answered: “I am afraid, for I do not know anything good that I would do.” Then those of the demons who were even higher along the path of the following soul of Macarius screamed: “You truly escaped our hands, Macarius!” But he said: “No, but we must also avoid it.” And when the monk was already at the gates of heaven, the demons exclaimed: “He escaped us, he escaped.” Then Macarius loudly answered the demons: “Yes! Protected by the power of my Christ, I escaped your wiles.” Such is the life, death and transition to eternal life of our venerable father Macarius of Egypt.
Saint Macarius the Great died around 391 at the age of 90. The place of his exploits is still called the Makaria desert. The relics of the saint are located in the city of Amalfi in Italy. The precious heritage of the experienced wisdom of Saint Macarius that has come down to us is 50 Words, 7 Instructions and 2 Epistles, as well as several sublime prayers. The subjects of the conversations and instructions of the Monk Macarius are the grace of God and inner spiritual life, as it is accomplished on the path of contemplative solitude. Despite the profound subject matter, the conversations and instructions of the spirit-bearing teacher are simple and intelligible to the mind and close to the reverent heart.
