In the year of the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus' at the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church a host of saints were glorified God's saints whose activities cover about six centuries of church history. And among them is the head of the Russian Church of the 16th century, St. Macarius, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus'.

All-Russian Metropolitan Macarius was born c. 1482 in Moscow in a family of pious parents. It is known that his father's name was Leonty, and that his mother subsequently took monastic vows with the name Euphrosyne. At baptism, he was named in the name of Michael, the Archangel of the Heavenly Forces. His distant relative, the brother of his great-grandfather, was the Monk Joseph Volotsky (+ 1515; commemorated Sept. 9). From the commemorative Synodic of the Assumption Cathedral we learn that in the family of St. Macarius there were many more persons of monastic and clerical rank. Michael's father, obviously, died shortly after the birth of his son, while the mother, placing her hope in the upbringing of her son on the Providence of God, took the vows in one of the monasteries. Then the future saint decides to leave the peaceful life and devote himself to the service of God. To do this, he enters as a novice at the monastery of the Monk Paphnutius of Borovsky (+1477; commemorated May 1).

This monastery was known for the strict ascetic life of its monks. The great saints of the Russian Church originally labored here: the monks Joseph Volotsky and Levkiy Volokolamsky (XVI century), Daniil Pereyaslavsky (+1540; commemorated April 7) and David of Serpukhov (+ 1520; commemorated October 18). During his tonsure, the future saint was named in honor of the famous Orthodox hermit ascetic Saint Macarius of Egypt (+ 391; commemorated January 19). In the monastery, he lazily went through the school of monastic deeds of vigil, humility, prayer and obedience, delved into book wisdom, comprehended the writing of holy icons. The cathedral church of the Borovskoye monastery was painted by the famous icon painter Dionysius, and there were also icons of the Monk Andrei Rublev (XV century; commemorated July 4). The monk Macarius, the future metropolitan, studied artistic skill with the great masters of antiquity.

February 15, 1523, in a spell on great post, monk Macarius was installed by Metropolitan Daniel (1522-1539; (1547) in the archimandrite of the Luzhetsk Monastery of the Nativity Holy Mother of God, founded by the Monk Ferapont of Mozhaisk (+ 1426; commemorated May 27). Being the rector of the monastery, he starts the monastery Synodik, establishing the commemoration of all the deceased brethren, arranges a chapel in the monastery cathedral in honor of his heavenly patron, St. Macarius of Egypt. But the stay of Archimandrite Macarius in Mozhaisk turned out to be short-lived: three years later he was called to archpastoral service.

On March 4, 1526, Archimandrite Macarius was consecrated Archbishop of Veliky Novgorod and Pskov, the most ancient cathedra of the Moscow Metropolis. The saint was consecrated in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, and on July 29 of the same year he arrives at the cathedra, which, according to the chronicler, widowed without a bishop for 17 years and 7 weeks. The chronicler says: “The saint sat on the archbishop’s table, and there was great joy among the people, not only in Veliky Novgorod, but also in Pskov and everywhere. And the bread was cheap, and the monastery was easier in taxes, and the intercession of the people was great, and the orphans were the feeder.

In the new high field, Bishop Macarius takes care of missionary education northern peoples vast Novgorod land. He repeatedly sends priests there to preach the gospel, commanding them to destroy pagan temples, to eradicate pagan rites, and to sprinkle everything with holy water. A blessing for missionary work in the very north of the Novgorod region, as well as an antimension, sacred vessels and books, was received from the saint by the Monk Tryphon of Pechenga (+ 1583; commemorated December 15).

In 1528, in the second year of his hierarchical service, Saint Macarius, fulfilling the decision of the Moscow Council of 1503, made a decision to introduce a cenobitic charter in all Novgorod monasteries. Having gathered the abbots, he “beginning to teach them, as if from the Life-Giving Trinity, from the highest Wisdom by teaching, to arrange a common life for them.” From that time on, the abbots, having taken the good advice of the God-loving archbishop, began to introduce a cenobitic charter in their monasteries, began to build stone or wooden churches and introduce common meals. According to the chronicler, the number of monks immediately increased in the monasteries.

The saint showed great concern for the creation and decoration of churches in his diocese and, above all, in Veliky Novgorod. He is beautifying the Sophia Cathedral, over the entrance to the cohort, with his blessing, images of the Holy Trinity and St. Sophia, the Wisdom of God, were painted, "to worship all Orthodox Christians." Vladyka masters set up an ambo in the cathedral, make new royal doors with a richly decorated veil. In total, under St. Macarius, about forty churches were built, rebuilt and re-decorated after fires in Novgorod alone, for which books were written, church utensils and vessels were made in the sovereign's workshop.

Having received the skill of icon painting while still in the Pafnutiev-Borovsky Monastery, the saint, as reported in the annals under 1529, “renews” the great shrine of the Novgorod land - the icon of the Mother of God “The Sign”, which had become very dilapidated by that time. After finishing work, he himself with a procession led the icon to the Church of the Savior on the Trade Side, where it was constantly for worship by the pious Novgorodians.

Being a shepherd of the children of the Church, Saint Macarius gave much strength and care to the service of his neighbors, treating the rich and the poor equally, the small and the great. O himself buries those who were burned in prison during a fire, collects money from the diocese to ransom compatriots from Tatar captivity, sends to Grand Duke Vasily III part of a candle that miraculously ignited at the relics of the Monk Varlaam Khutynsky. During the national disasters that happened in Veliky Novgorod, pestilence and drought, the active archpastor convenes the clergy, delivers sermons, performs prayers with a special rite of washing the holy relics and then orders to sprinkle everything in the vicinity with this water. Soon the pestilence and the epidemic cease. Through his hard work, Archbishop Macarius earned great love from his flock.

In 1542, by order of St. Macarius, a temple of St. Nicholas was built in the sovereign's courtyard, whom the archbishop especially honored as the patron of travelers. He himself repeatedly made long trips both throughout the diocese and beyond: for example, in 1539 he traveled to Moscow, where he led the election and installation of the new All-Russian Metropolitan - St. ), elected from the abbots of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery.

With the blessing of the saint, lives and services to Russian saints are written in Novgorod. Hieromonk Elijah from the domiciliary church compiled the life of the martyr George of Bulgaria (+ 1515; commemorated May 26), and also wrote a canon and service to Mikhail Klopsky (+ c. 1456; January 11). His life was written by Vasily Mikhailovich Tuchkov, who in 1537 arrived in Novgorod from Moscow on the sovereign's business. “At that time, the throne was then adorning the Wisdom of God with truly blessedness to the namesake Archbishop Macarius, and many of him for the sake of virtue throughout Russia, the glory of him is parishioner.” Vladyka Macarius addressed him with the words: “Keep the secret of the Tsar, child, and write clearly the deeds of God” (Comrade 12:7) and “spread the life and miracles of the Monk and Blessed Michael, called Sallos, who lived a blessed life with the Life-Giving Trinity on Klopki. The created lives were instructive reading for the pious Novgorodians

In 1542, the question arose in the Russian Church about the election of a new metropolitan to the Moscow cathedra. By the providence of God, the choice fell on the Novgorod lord. “By the grace of the Holy Spirit, by the election of the saints and the will of the Grand Duke Ivan Vasilyevich of All Russia, he was named Metropolitan Macarius, Archbishop of Great Novagrad and Pskov; March 16, on Thursday 4 weeks of holy fast, the metropolitan was raised to the courtyard, and placed on the high throne of the primacy of the great Rosia to the metropolis of the same month March 19, on week 4 of holy fast, ”we read in the Nikon Chronicle. By the time Saint Macarius was elected to the throne of the Moscow wonderworkers Peter, Alexy and Jonah, he was about 60 years old.

In the XVI century. Russia was the only Orthodox country over which a foreign yoke did not weigh. And in 1547, in Moscow, the stronghold of Orthodoxy, for the first time in history, the royal wedding of the Moscow sovereign took place, which was performed by St. Macarius. This event was of particular importance, since it was committed in Moscow, and not in Constantinople, and it was committed by the metropolitan, and not by the patriarch. Now the Orthodox of the whole world looked with hope and hope at the only Orthodox tsar in the world.

Shortly before the Kazan campaign, the tsar. worried about the disaster that has arisen in the newly founded city of Sviyazhsk, he turns to the metropolitan with the question of how to help the disaster that has happened. To which the holy elder boldly replies: “May the relics of all the saints be brought to the cathedral church, may the service be performed over them and water be holy from them, may you, sovereign, with our humility, send someone from the priest to Sviyaga to the Most Pure Honest of Her Nativity and all churches yes prayer services will also be performed and they will sanctify the waters together, let them sanctify the city with the crucifixion and holy waters, and protect all people with the cross and sprinkle water, but Christ for the prayers of the saints will quench His righteous anger, and send a lesson to those living in the city, in than as men have sinned, let them not appear a little from their wickedness. After the prayer service, Metropolitan Macarius wrote an instructive message to the Sviyazhsk city. In it, he encourages residents to zealously fulfill Christian traditions, remembering the fear of God and avoiding sinful acts. The water consecrated at the prayer service, together with the message, was sent in 1552 to Sviyazhsk, where illness and disorder in the garrison soon began to stop through the prayerful intercession of St. Macarius.

In 1552, Metropolitan Macarius blessed the tsar to go to Kazan and predicted his coming victory and overcoming. Later, in memory of this event, the Cathedral of the Intercession on the Moat was built in Moscow, now known as the Church of St. Basil the Blessed. A chapel was arranged in it in honor of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. The head of the Russian Church himself consecrated this marvelous cathedral, the pearl of Russian architecture. Here, on Red Square, in remembrance of the gospel event, the saint made a solemn procession on a donkey on the feast of Palm Sunday. After the Kazan victory, a new extensive diocese was created in the Russian Church, in which missionary activity began with the first Kazan hierarch appointed there - Archbishop Guria (+ 1563; commemorated December 5).

In 1547 and 1549 the saint convenes councils in Moscow, which rightfully remained in the history of the Russian Church with the name of the Makarievskys. They decided the issue of glorification of Russian saints. Prior to this, the glorification of saints was carried out in Rus' with the blessing and authority of the local bishop, so the ascetics were revered only in the lands of their labors and deeds. Metropolitan Macarius, whom his contemporaries called a martyr, by convening Councils, took upon himself the great work of establishing a general church glorification and veneration of the saints of God. The Makarievsky cathedrals of 1547 marked a whole epoch in the history of the Russian Church, "the epoch of new miracle workers." So they called then all the newly canonized Russian saints. These Councils caused a great spiritual upsurge in Russian society.

The first autocephalous Metropolitan Jonah, the Novgorod hierarchs John, Jonah, Evfimy, Nikita, Nifont were canonized at the Makariev Councils; noble princes Alexander Nevsky, Vsevolod Pskov, Mikhail Tverskoy; the pillars of monasticism are the Monks Pafnuty Borovsky, Macarius Kalyazinsky, Alexander Svirsky, Nikon of Radonezh, Savva Storozhevsky and others. The chronology of these names covers almost the entire period of Christianity in Rus' by that time, their liturgical glorification shows the diversity of their saving deeds. The Russian people turned to their prayerful intercession with zeal.

The glorification of the ascetics required them to write new services with liturgical indications of a typical nature about the order of their performance, as well as to create again or edit their previously written lives. All this is done by the primate Macarius of glory for the sake of God and His saints, whom "the Lord God glorified with many miracles and various banners."

At the beginning of 1551, the Stoglavy Cathedral, convened by Metropolitan Macarius, began work in the royal chambers of Moscow. It discussed a variety of issues relating to the appearance of a Christian and his behavior and piety, church deanery and discipline, icon painting and spiritual enlightenment. After the Council, mandate letters were sent to various parts of the Russian metropolis, which then became the basis for council resolutions when they were compiled and edited. The cathedral was named Stoglavy in history, i.e. its materials are presented in one hundred chapters.

It is known that Saint Macarius made great efforts to eradicate various false teachings. At the Council of 1553, the heresy of Matthew Bashkin and Theodosius Kosoy was condemned, who taught that Christ is not God, they did not venerate icons and rejected the sacraments of the Church.

Saint Macarius made an enormous contribution to the development of ancient Russian writing. While still in Novgorod, he continued the work of Archbishop Gennady (+ 1505; commemorated December 4). And if Archbishop Gennady gathered together the biblical books, then Bishop Macarius set the goal of collecting all the "what" spiritual literature in Rus'. He began his work on the systematization of Russian church literature in 1529. This undertaking received in history the name Great Makarievsky Chetiy Menaion. Their first edition was invested in the Novgorod Sophia Cathedral in 1541, the second in the 50s was given as a contribution to the Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin, and the third was later received by the first Russian tsar. The Menaion contains and edited various lists of the lives of many saints, the homiletic, theological and patriotic heritage of the Russian Church.

Metropolitan Macarius supervises the work of not only scribes, but also authors of spiritual writings. So, he orders the archpriest from the Kremlin Church of the Savior on Bor Yermolai to write a book about the Holy Trinity and the life of Bishop Vasily of Ryazan. At the initiative of the saint, the first systematic work on Russian history was created - “The Book of Powerful Royal Genealogy”, directly compiled by the royal confessor - Archpriest of the Cathedral of the Annunciation Andrei (Athanasius in monasticism), the future metropolitan, successor and continuer of the labors of Saint Macarius. Especially close, obviously, to Metropolitan Macarius was the prolific writer of Ancient Rus', Priest Vasily, in monasticism Varlaam, who glorified the Pskov saints with his hymnographic and hagiographic works.

St. Macarius became the patron of printing in Rus', under him the printing of books for the first time in the Russian state began by the cleric of the church of St. Nicholas of Gostunsky in the Kremlin, deacon Ivan Fedorov. In the afterword of the Apostle of 1564, which came out after the death of the saint, and in two editions of the Book of Hours of 1565, it is said that they were also printed "with the blessing of His Grace Macarius, Metropolitan of All Rus'." These books at that time were not only read in churches, they also taught to read and write.

Saint Macarius, who devoted so much energy to the glorification of the Russian saints, by the grace of God, was rewarded in his daily activities with constant communion with pious men, who were later canonized by the Russian Church. With his blessing, the monastery was founded by the Monk Adrian of Poshekhonsky (+1550; commemorated March 5), whom the metropolitan himself ordained and gave him a charter for the construction of the Church of the Assumption of the Mother of God.

A contemporary of St. Macarius was an amazing saint, whom the Muscovites called a walker - Basil the Blessed (commemorated August 2). He repeatedly prayed at the services in the Assumption Cathedral performed by the Metropolitan. His denunciation of the king is significant when, after the Divine Liturgy in a crowded church, the blessed one surprised the autocrat, who during the service was thinking about building a new palace for himself, noting that “there was no one at the liturgy, but only three: the first metropolitan, the second - the blessed empress and the third he , sinful Vasily. Later, the saint personally performed the funeral service and buried the blessed one.

On February 3, 1555, Saint Macarius appointed Saint Gurius (+1563; October 4), another of his contemporary, the Monk Macarius the Roman of Novgorod (XVI century; commemorated Jan. them a monastery.

Macarius Moscow

Special attention should be paid to the relationship between the metropolitan and the great Russian ascetic of the 16th century. Reverend Alexander of Svir (+1533; commemorated August 30). The Monk Alexander, whom the Lord Himself honored with the Trinity indulgence - a visitation, was familiar to the metropolitan, who honored his labors and deeds from the Novgorod period. Before his death, the Monk Alexander instructed Saint Macarius to take care of his brethren and the founded monastery. Twelve years after the death of the monk, the metropolitan orders the Svir hegumen Herodion to write his life, and two more years later, that is, only 14 years after his death, at the Council of 1547, the canonization of the saint takes place. The Monk Alexander thus belonged simultaneously to the number of those whom St. Macarius canonized, and to the number of those with whom he communicated in his life. In the Intercession Cathedral on Red Square (St. Basil's Cathedral) in 1560, Saint Macarius was consecrated in honor of the Monk Alexander of Svir

In 1555, on the feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul, a miraculous icon of St. Nicholas Velikoretsky was brought from Vyatka to Moscow. By the providence of God, Metropolitan Macarius with the Annunciation Archpriest Andrei renovated this great shrine, “he was not used to icon painting.” The saint labored with much desire and faith, fasting and prayer to renew the holy image of the great miracle worker.

Metropolitan Macarius constantly cared not only for the entire flock, but also for each person, treating mercifully individual, even erring, children of the Church. So, once, in the Assumption Cathedral, after an evening service, someone “taught the enemy to commit theft,” but was restrained by an invisible force and could not do it. In the morning they discovered him, and when Metropolitan Macarius came, he was told how the thief had been found in the church. However, the saint was ordered to release him, but the zemstvo judges wanted to judge the criminal according to the law. Then the metropolitan strictly forbade doing this and sent a church watchman to escort the “tatya” to a safe place. Arriving at Kulishki, to the Church of All Saints, he began to walk there with a frantic look and soon died. Some grumbled at the metropolitan for letting the thief go with impunity, but the saint did not get annoyed with them, and ordered the body of the deceased to be buried.

The basis of the virtuous life of Metropolitan Macarius was the daily work of asceticism, fasting and prayer. One of his unknown contemporaries wrote: “Metropolitan of the most holy Macarius in Moscow, who lives motionless and rules the true Word of God... cut off and forbid, the malice of the youth, having acquired the mind, was always perfect for you. Cases of clairvoyance also testify to the height of his spiritual life. He predicted the capture by Russian troops of Kazan in 1552 and Polotsk in 1563.

It is known that the metropolitan foresaw the coming disasters of the Russian land, which brought her the oprichnina, established by the tsar shortly after his blessed death. “Not at some time of the night, the saint stood at the usual prayer and said in a great voice: “Oh, to me, a sinner, more than all people! How can I see this! Wickedness and division of the earth is coming! Lord, have mercy, have mercy! Satisfy your anger! If you do not have mercy on us for our sins, otherwise it would not be with me, according to me! Lord, don't let me see this!" And tears are shedding great. And then I hear his cell-attendant, a certain spiritual one, and marvel at this, and think within myself: “Who is he talking to?” And not seeing anyone, and be surprised about this. And he said to him spiritually about this: "Iniquity is coming, and hemorrhage, and the division of the earth." This important message of the Piskarev chronicler brings the image of Metropolitan Macarius closer to the ecumenical patriarchs Gennady (458-471; commemorated on August 31) and Thomas (607-610; commemorated on March 21), who earnestly prayed that the Lord would avert the coming disasters for the Church, according to at least during their tenure.

Once the formidable tsar asked Metropolitan Macarius to send him a soulful book. Having received the Order of burial, he became angry with the saint: “You sent me a burial, but such books are not brought into our royal chambers.” And Macarius said to him: “Az, your pilgrimage, sent simply by your order that you ordered to send a soulful book; and that one is more useful than all: if anyone respects it with attention, he will not sin forever.

In mid-September 1563, in memory of the martyr Nikita (+372; commemorated Sept. 5), the saint made a procession of the cross, during which he caught a bad cold and fell ill. In the evening, he "beginning to tell his elder that he is exhausted green, his body is cold with a disease, he is obsessed with the essence." He ordered to report his infirmity to the place of his tonsure, to the Pafnutiev-Borovsky monastery, and ask the abbot to send him a spiritual elder. Elder Elisha was sent to the saint, who, undoubtedly, marked the sick hierarch of the Monk Paphnutius himself, who had the habit of spiritually comforting the sick before the death, confessing them and preparing them for departure to another world.

On November 4, the saint prayed for the last time in the Cathedral of the Dormition, and during the prayer service he himself venerated the icons and relics of the great miracle workers Peter, Jonah, and other blessed metropolitans buried in the cathedral, while tears of the heart flowed from his eyes, and for a long time the elder sighed in prayer in front of the image of the Most Pure Mother of God of Vladimir, so that all those present marveled at his wonderful prayer. Then the saint humbly asked for forgiveness from everyone.

On December 3, the tsar came to Metropolitan Macarius to ask for blessings. The saint told him about his intention to retire to the place of his tonsure - the Pafnutiev-Borovsky monastery, but the tsar persuaded him to remain on the pulpit. Just before his death, the metropolitan expressed his desire to the tsar to retire to the monastery, even wrote to him about it in a letter, but by the will of the tsar he was forced to refuse it again. The feast of the Nativity of Christ arrived, but the life of the saint was already dying out. He could no longer read the Gospel himself, which he did all his life, and now the Holy Scriptures were read at his request by clergy close to him.

And so, on December 31, 1563, when the bell struck for matins, “the most venerable saint and shepherd of the Russian Metropolis of All Russia, betray your soul in the hand of the Living God, love Him from young nails and follow His yoke with an irrevocable thought.” When, before the removal of the body from the metropolitan chambers, his face was opened, it was “like a shining light, for his pure, and immaculate, and spiritual, and merciful life and for other virtues, not like a dead man, but like sleeping to see.” Everyone marveled at this wonderful vision, offering glory to God, who glorified His saint.

The burial service of the saint was performed by 5 bishops in the presence of the king and a multitude of people. After that, the primatial farewell letter was read, which the metropolitan wrote before the end of his life, asking everyone for prayers, forgiveness and bestowing on everyone his last archpastoral blessing.

Thus ended his wondrous life the great organizer of the Russian Church, Metropolitan Macarius of Moscow, whose veneration began immediately after his death. Soon the first icon of the saint appeared on the tomb. It is known that, having returned from the Lithuanian campaign of 1564, the tsar kissed the images of Saints Peter, Jonah and Macarius in the Assumption Cathedral, “kindly kissing them.”

“You will be reverend with a reverend, and you will be innocent with an innocent husband. And you will be chosen with the chosen one (Ps. 17:26-27),” says the psalmist and prophet David. Constantly communicating with the holy ascetics, Metropolitan Macarius set an example of faith and the loftiness of archpastoral service. He cared about the spiritual enlightenment of his flock. Having glorified so many Russian saints, he himself now stands before the throne of the Life-Giving Trinity.

The Monk Macarius, called the Great, is one of the Holy Fathers of the Church, who composed many prayers and left many labors for the edification of the Orthodox. He was a hermit, a hermit who labored in the Sinai desert and experienced the whole spiritual life, at the same time instructing people with his conversations and writings.

The writings of St. Macarius, who is also called Egyptian, since it was from the Nile Valley that he was born, is an example of patristic writings, a kind of instruction that Orthodox Christians are guided in their spiritual life today. His life is full of numerous instructive stories and miracles.

ICON OF ST. MAKARY THE GREAT: HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE HOLY?

The image of St. Macarius is difficult to distinguish among the images of other hermits. Be careful when choosing an icon: it must be signed with the name of Macarius next to the face of the saint or at his foot.

The most famous image of Mary of Egypt is a fresco, that is, an icon painted on a wall on wet plaster, by Theophanes the Greek (c. 1340-1410). This icon painter was indeed born in Byzantium, on the territory of modern Greece, and worked in the Italian colonies of that time - Cafe and Galata. Now in their place is the Crimean city of Feodosia. Apparently, it was there that Feofan learned about the Russian Renaissance: while in Italy the Renaissance began, at the center of which stood man and his desire for pleasure, and in Rus' Orthodoxy, driven by the Tatar-Mongols, rose from its knees. Temples began to be built.

As a pious man and, judging by the frescoes, with great spiritual experience, Feofan began to develop the art of fresco icon painting in Rus'. His first work on our lands was the frescoes of the Church of the Savior on Ilyina Street, and among the best preserved is the image of St. Macarius the Great. Even existing in fragments and restored today, this fresco is one of the most beautiful examples of world art. It is located in the choirs of the Trinity chapel of the temple, and perfectly reflects the expression, expressiveness and originality of the manner of writing the Greek (in addition to this image, a number of frescoes have also been preserved in the temple: the Trinity, the Mother of God, the prophets and the most famous - the Almighty Savior in the dome).

The icon of Macarius the Great is a monochrome (black and white) image of a tall and strong old man with a face dark from sunburn in the desert. He only shows a cap of gray hair and a long beard. At first glance, his whole figure seems to be covered with hair - but looking closely, a person sees that the hermit stands as if radiant, doused with a pillar of Light. The figure of the saint is depicted with wide strokes of white paint, in “cursive writing”; the face and palms are highlighted in black - this is the absence of details and the color, as if shining from an unusual icon, makes an amazing impression.

It should be noted that on other icons St. Macarius is depicted in gray clothing made from the wool of wild goats. But the Monk Theophan the Greek interpreted the image of the saint in a completely different way: in a flash of light, as if in a mystical radiance of God's grace that descended on him, depicted in free strokes, which, as it were, burns the sinful and highlights the face of the saint, riveting attention to him.

In the icon of St. Macarius Theophan the Greek and in his other images, there is a very small number of colors: such avarice of colors denotes the ascetic renunciation of Macarius himself from the world, its diversity and multicolor, supported by the icon painter and visually reflected by him focusing on the One essential - the radiant grace of God. It was Macarius the Great who laid the foundation for individual, personally oriented spiritual work in Orthodoxy and monastic asceticism in obedience to mentors, confessors, and experienced elders.

On the dark face of Macarius of Egypt, "gaps" are more clearly visible - features of white paint on the face, evicting facial features and symbolizing the light of God's grace, changing man and matter in general, creating him in a different, spiritual state. The same gaps on his palms: on the icon they are usually raised up, or only one hand is raised, and in the other the saint holds a cross. The gesture of opening the palms means accepting the prayer of the one who is addressing the saint, as well as sending peace to the one who prays. One can see in this gesture the strength and confidence in the force of peace: so often the rulers of cities and countries, ascending the podium, only stop the noise in the hall with a gesture. The posture of St. Macarius calls for spiritual peace and, as it were, immediately sends it to everyone who turns to him. Each one who prays feels spiritual silence, heartfelt peace within.

Turn with a prayer to the icon of St. Macarius, who loves people and sends them God's grace.

THE ROAD TO THE MONASTY OF SAINT MACARY

The place and time of birth of the future great ascetic, one of the founders of Christian monasticism, is known: about the year 300, Saint Macarius was born in the village of Ptinapor in Lower Egypt. Brought up in Christian obedience, despite the desire to devote his life to God, he married at the will of his parents. However, God soon took his wife to Himself. The saint worked, helped his parents and studied the Holy Scriptures a lot. He was able to become a monk only after the death of his parents, who did not want to let him go to the monastery.

Even then, in the Egyptian (Sinai) desert, there was a community of hermits under the leadership of St. Anthony the Great, the founder of monasticism. Like Saint Macarius, this saint is revered in the main Christian denominations: Orthodoxy and Catholicism.

The Monk Macarius distributed all his inheritance to the poor and went into the wilderness to pray to God under the guidance of only his spiritual father. This unknown saint - and possibly an Angel - instructed him in the spiritual life, worship, fasting and prayer. They fed themselves by weaving baskets and lived in two small huts in the desert. Over time, Saint Macarius settled in a monastery under the rule of Anthony the Great, where he lived in a monastic community, becoming a follower and one of Saint Anthony's close disciples. Years later, Macarius the Great left this monastery with the blessing of his spiritual father Anthony, going to the North-West of Egypt to the Scythian monastery. It was here that he himself became a spiritual mentor, having become famous for his exploits and wisdom so that at the age of thirty he earned the nickname “old man”, like a monk-scheme. According to the rules established by the holy apostles, a person cannot take holy orders until the age of Christ: 33 years. But even earlier the Bishop of Ptinapor himself wanted to ordain Saint Macarius as a clergyman, but Macarius himself preferred to retire as soon as possible in order to avoid such an honor.

St. Macarius endured many even visible misfortunes from demons, but it was precisely in his humility that the saint always weakened the devil. Thus, the demons tried many times to beat him; Once, when he was living alone in the desert, a girl, having become pregnant, accused the saint of seducing her. The villagers of the girl almost killed the saint. But he did not even break the vow of silence: Macarius continued to weave baskets, and gave all the money he received to feed the girl. By God's providence, she could not be relieved of the burden for a long time and, realizing that she was punished by the Most High Himself, she pointed to the true father of her child.

When Saint Macarius was about forty years old, he was at the death of Abba Anthony the Great, receiving from him as a blessing a traveling rod, and receiving grace from the saint: as the disciples of Saints Macarius and Anthony said, he received a blessing, like the prophet Elisha, mantle (clothes) from prophet Elijah. It is known that after this, Saint Macarius began to work miracles and healings with his prayer - so that the fame of him spread throughout the cities of Egypt and people began to flock to him from everywhere.

Saint Macarius avoided fame and sought solitude in prayer. Since he could not leave either the monks of his monastery or the people thirsting for his help, he dug a narrow and deep cave under his usual monastic cell in order to pray and wear out the flesh with asceticism. With his prayer, by the grace of God, he even began to resurrect the dead, but he remained just as humble, kind and quiet a person. The Monk Macarius had the Holy Spirit in himself: the inveterate villains, only after talking with him, repented of their crimes, converted to Christianity, and even took monastic vows. Many stories about the miracles of the saint are kept by the ancient Fathers, collections of stories from the lives of saints.

Having reached the age of maturity by the standards of the society of that time - forty years old, Saint Macarius accepted the priesthood. From now on, he helped people with the performance of the Sacraments of the Church, and also led the monastic community.

During the reign of the heretic emperor Valentine (364-378), Saint Macarius the Great, together with Macarius of Alexandria, was expelled from the desert by the king's henchman, Bishop Luke, who had fallen into heresy. The saints, who were already advanced in years, were arrested and taken on a ship to a deserted island inhabited by pagans. However, even there, Saint Macarius the Great was able to perform a miracle, healing the daughter of the main pagan priest and baptizing all the inhabitants of the island. Upon learning of this, the heretic bishop was ashamed of his act and returned the elders to their cloisters.

The intercession before God of St. Macarius, even during his lifetime, saved many from dangers, temptations and vices. The mercy of Saint Macarius, his kindness were so great that they became a proverb among the monks of the Sinai desert, who said that just as God covers the Earth with His grace, so Abba (that is, father, spiritual mentor) Macarius covered sins. He forgave sins, helped to perk up and, as it were, did not hear and forgot the sins of a person in further communication with him after confession.

Saint Macarius lived to be almost a hundred years old and lived in ascetic work, hermitage and monastic cloisters for about 60 years, dying for worldly life, life for himself, but living for God and people. And yet, all his life he continued to talk with God in prayer, growing spiritually again and again, discovering new things in himself and people, learning new things about God and the Earth he created. He continued to repent of every sinful movement of his soul and rejoiced in spirit about God's mercy. Shortly before his death, the Holy Fathers of monasticism appeared to him: Anthony and Pachomius the Great, saying that he would soon depart in peace to the Kingdom of Heaven. Saint Macarius joyfully told his disciples about the coming death, blessing everyone, giving the last instructions and dying in 391, committing his soul into God's hands.

REAL STORIES FROM THE LIFE OF SAINT MACARY

The saint became famous for his simplicity and mercy - so that in the ancient Patericons (patericons), collections of instructive stories from the life of ancient saints, many amazing stories about these qualities of him have been preserved:

• • Seeing a thief at his cell, the saint himself helped him to load the stolen baskets and the small amount of money saved for the ascetic’s food onto the donkey – if only not to judge the person and deciding that God had given, God had taken.

• • One day the saint was walking in the desert and saw a skull lying on the ground. After praying, he was able to speak with the soul of the person to whom the skull belonged during his lifetime - the priest. He told that, due to his malice, he was in the flames of hell, but he was grateful to Saint Macarius: after all, the ascetic prays for the whole world, the living and the dead, and during prayer, this priest and others like him, burning in the flame, can at least see each other a little.

• • One day, an Angel of God told Saint Macarius that he had not reached that spiritual perfection that two women who live in a nearby city have. The saint was not filled with envy, but went to the city to learn from these women. It turned out that these are two wives of two brothers who live in peace among themselves and together with their spouses live a Christian life in the midst of a world full of temptations. This episode from the life of Saint Macarius is given as a consolation and instruction to all Orthodox: one can achieve holiness without being a monk, like Saint Macarius, but by being in prayer and love with one's neighbors.

SPIRITUAL LIFE AND INSTRUCTIONS OF THE SAINT

Saint Macarius described his experience of spiritual work and asceticism in beautiful literary language. His works are read by Orthodox Christians to this day, studying the theological heritage of the saint and guided by his advice as a wise spiritual mentor. About fifty spiritual conversations and less than a dozen instructions and messages remained for humanity after the saint as the pearls of his wisdom. They are divided and titled on such topics as Christian love, reason, his freedom and his ascension to God, spiritual perfection, prayer, patience, purity of heart.

The saint showed how transient earthly life is and how it is possible to prepare the soul for the Kingdom of God in Heaven: it is necessary to cultivate kinship with God in the soul. After all, if we don’t like virtue, we don’t love God and prayer – next to God we will simply be burned by His grace, being alien to it and incapable of communion with Christ, we will be bored in paradise and we ourselves will suffer there. Saint Macarius said that you need to change, rejecting vices and changing your state, your nature to good, pure. We ourselves can become partakers of the Divine nature of the Lord, uniting with him, first of all, in the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

A person will inherit the Kingdom of God "according to the justice and mercy of God" - that is, God is good, but He will follow the will of the person himself, shown by his actions and earthly life. The ability to pray and the desire for God become vectors in the life of every person who loves Christ. The main foundation of spiritual life is faith, then life according to the commandments of God, without mortal sins.

The works of Saint Macarius have been translated, perhaps, into all the languages ​​of the world. The Russian Orthodox Church, from its very foundation, has been guided by them in the instructions of spiritual life: the saint wrote simply and clearly, which is why today many Orthodox Christians try to follow his advice.

The life of Saint Macarius himself also serves as an example for many Orthodox Christians, especially monks. His life and miracles are described by the priest Rufinus, who knew the saint personally: he described the lives of many of his contemporaries, but dedicated a separate chapter in the book about them to the Monk Macarius. The life of the saint in the same century was written by Bishop Serapion of Lower Egypt, which served for the canonization (official glorification in the face of saints) Macarius the Great. From the records of Father Rufinus and Vladyka Serapion it is clear that Saint Macarius enjoyed authority and reverence among all Egyptians. The monastic communities of Egypt, in turn, gave rise to the entire monasticism of the Eastern Christian Church, which eventually became known as the Orthodox Church.

WHAT DO YOU PRAY TO SAINT MACARIOUS THE GREAT?

The Monk Macarius of Egypt became famous for the severity of his life, his ability to control his passions, and many miracles performed at the request of people. Therefore, even today they pray to him in many needs. The icon of the Monk Macanius is quite rare, but many monasteries revere him as a great mentor and have an image of the saint in the temples inside the monastery. You can also purchase an image of a saint in a church shop - since the image is rare, you need to look for it sold at the cathedral (main) cathedral of your city or in monasteries. Before the image, light a candle, cross yourself twice, kiss the hand of the saint on the icon, cross yourself again and bow, and then start reading the prayer - you can do it in your own words.

You can ask Saint Macarius the Great:

• • About enlightenment with the light of truth, help in making vital decisions;

• • On strengthening faith and the ability to pray;

• • About correcting life, seeing your sins and getting rid of them in spiritual purity;

• • About consolation in troubles and the help of patience;

• • About peace of mind and tranquility;

• • About getting rid of the misfortunes of the devil, getting rid of witchcraft influences;

• • About wisdom and choosing the right path in life.

Memorial Day of Macarius the Great - February 1, on this day special prayers are read to the saint at the evening service and the morning Liturgy, often after it an akathist to the saint is read.

Honoring the Monk Macarius, do not forget his precepts: make it your habit to morning and evening prayers according to his texts, read his instructions, communicate with God and you will hear His voice in your heart, He will guide you on the path of life.

Here is the evening prayer composed by Saint Macarius himself more than one and a half thousand years ago and translated into Russian. You can read it online daily:

Eternal God, the King of all creatures, who helped me to live up to this time, forgive me the sins that I committed today with thoughts, words and deeds, and cleanse my soul, Lord, from all vices and defilements of the body and spirit! And help me, Lord, to live this night's sleep in peace, so that, rising from my humble bed, I would please You with good and good deeds and thoughts all the days of my life, and defeat my visible enemies - evil people - and invisible - evil spirits . And deliver me, O Lord, from vain thoughts and vicious and deceitful desires. You can do everything, and the whole Earth is Your kingdom, the power and glory of the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Oh, holy head of the monastic monastery, our reverend father, blessed and righteous Ava Macarius! Do not completely forget us, the poor servants of God, but remember us in your holy and good prayers to the Lord. Remember the monastic flock, which you, as a good shepherd, took care of, do not forget your visits to your spiritual children. Pray for us, O good and holy ascetic of God, because you have the opportunity to speak face to face with the King of Heaven - do not keep silent about us sinners, and do not turn away from us who respect you with love.
Remember us at the Throne of God, because the grace has been given to you by Him to pray for us. We know that you are not dead, although you left us in body, but you remain alive even after death. Do not depart from us in spirit, protect from the arrows of enemies and all the temptations of demons, and the wiles of glasses, our good shepherd! Although your relics are laid before us and all the people of the world, your holy soul with the Angelic Forces and the warriors of Heaven, standing next to the Throne of God Almighty, rejoices forever.
Knowing you as alive and after death, we come to you and pray: ask God Almighty for us, for the benefit of our bodies and souls, so that we can calmly move from earthly life to heavenly life, be delivered from the obstacles of the rulers of the satanic hordes, from eternal torment and the flames of hell, but were vouchsafed to enter and inherit Heavenly Kingdom God, where with all the righteous, who in all ages have pleased the Lord and our God Jesus Christ, whom people always praise and honor and who is worshiped together with His Eternal Father and the Holy Spirit, Good and Life-giving, forever. Amen.

Through the prayers of St. Macarius, may the Lord bless you!

Born in Egypt around the year 301. With love-bo-view and user-di-served, he lived to his ro-di-te-lyam in the old, ta-nii ro-di-te-lei, and at the end of their rank, he made it complete-shen-but free from everyday worries. Under the guidance of the experience of the old old-tsa-ino-ka, the pre-excellent Ma-ka-riy began to pass the silent other-che-living tie and ru-co-de-lie. Sleep-cha-la, he poured in a deserted place, not far from the village where he lived, in that way, pre-beautiful per-re -se-poured-sya on the Nit-riy-sky mountain in the Fa-ran desert.

Having lived for three years in the desert, he went to the pre-dob-no-mu († 356), the father of the Egyptian monastery, oh he heard someone, still living in the world, and he burned to see him. Pre-excellent av-va An-to-ny with love-bo-view accepted blessed Ma-ka-ria, someone made him pre- given by the teacher-no-one and after-before-va-te-lem. With him, the venerable Ma-ka-riy lived for a long time, and then, according to the advice of the holy ab-you, retired to Skit- the desert (in the se-ve-ro-west-western part of Egypt) and there so pro-si-yal with his-and-mi in-dvi-ga-mi that his hundred -whether to call it “youth-she-old-man”, because, having reached-wa-reached-thirty-tsa-ty-years-of-no-age-ra-ta, he showed -by an experienced, mature foreign-com. Here, pre-do-no-mu Ma-ka-riu come-ho-di-elk bo-ro-sya with the be-sa-mi day and night, and they w-d-wee that they can’t beat him, because he has a great weapon - sme-re-nie.

Once upon a time, the saint was half-elk 40 years old, he was consecrated to the rank of a priest-puppet-no-ka and put on a hundred-I-te-lem ( av-howl) monks who lived in the Skete wilderness. In these years, the pre-beautiful Ma-ka-riy often se-shal ve-li-ko-go An-to-niya, after-beam-tea from him on-stav-le -niya in spiritual be-se-dah. Together with two other-gi-mi-student-no-ka-mi pre-dob-no-go -to be present at his blessed death, and as a kind of god-ha-tey-neck, after-l-l-chil in-sooh pre-be-ad-but -go An-to-niya, someone-eye that supported the shaft in the do-ro-ge his weak body, dejected old-ro-stu and post-no- che-ski-mi in dvi-ga-mi. Together with this in-so-hom, the pre-beautiful Ma-ka-riy accepted su-gu-bo and the spirit of An-to-niya Ve-li-ko-go, as once -received such a howling prophet Eli-this after Elijah pro-ro-ka. With the power of his spirit, the pre-beautiful Ma-ka-riy co-created many wondrous miracles. Once upon a time, the pre-additional Ma-ka-riy raz-go-va-ri-val with a che-re-pom of the main language of the che-th priest, who the other told about his mu-che-ni-yah and about the more difficult and cruel ones that overtook those who knew the name of God, but he rejected Him and did not keep Him for the sake of it.

Due to the multitude of pri-ho-div-she-go to him on-ro-yes, reverend Ma-ka-riy had little time to da-le-nii pre-yes-vat-sya bo-go-thought. That's why you-ko-fell under your kel-li-her deep cave, long eye-lo half a stage, ku -yes, and hiding from a hundred-yang-but coming to him and on-ru-sha-yu-shchih his god-thought and mo-lit-wu. The venerable Ma-ka-riy reached such a daring-but-ve-niya in walking-de-nii before God, which, according to his prayer of the State go-resurrection of the dead. Despite such a-you-so-to-reach-well-that-bo-go-to-be-be, he continued to keep the unusual-but-ven-noe media -re-tion.

In the years of the kingdom-va-niya im-pe-ra-to-ra Va-len-ta ari-a-ni-na (364-378) pre-excellent Ma-ka-riy Ve -li-cue, together with the pre-advantage, is subjected to pre-follow-up-to-va-nia from the side of ari-an-sko-go epi-sko-pa Lu-ki . Both of their elders were seized and, in a diva on a ship, they were taken to a deserted island, where the tongues lived. There, according to the prayers of the saints, in-lu-chi-la is the daughter of the priest, after which the priest himself and all the inhabitants of the ost-ro- va-nya-whether the Holy Baptism. Upon learning of the incident, the Ari-an-sky bishop was tired and allowed the elders to return to their deserts. Meekness, smi-re-nie and mi-lo-ser-die pre-be-good-but-go pre-ob-ra-zh-whether the soul-shi-lo-ve-che-sky. 60 years spent St. Ma-ka-riy in a dead howl for the world-ra desert. More than all the time, me-no pre-additional pro-vo-dil in be-se-de with God, often-a-hundred-be-vaya in co-sto-i-nii spirit-hov-no-go resurrection. Your abundant experience in the movement of av-va pre-created into deep divine-word-creative creations. 50 conversations and 7 in-movement-no-che-words remained dra-go-valuable on-the-follow-di-em-spirit-of-wisdom-ro-sti pre-better th Ma-ka-riya Ve-li-ko-go. The highest good and the goal of man-lo-ve-ka is the union of souls with God, - the main thought in your-re-ni-yah is pre-good no-go Ma-ka-riya.

The pre-excellent lived to 97 years, not long before the end of the chi-na († c. 390-391), the pre-excellent An-to-ny , co-sharing the good news of the near-kim re-re-ho-de him to the blessed heavenly abodes. The pre-ad-b-ny began to pri-go-tav-li-vat-sya to his death. After nine days, pre-good-no-mu Ma-ka-riy appeared He-ru-vim with many An-ge-lovs. When the holy soul of the pre-good-but-go Ma-ka-riya would be taken by He-ru-vi-mom and ascended to heaven by him, some- rye of the fathers of the capes-len-ny-mi eyes-mi-de-li, that the air-spirited demons in from-da-le-ni hundred-I-whether and in-pee-whether, that from-be-stinged their St. Ma-ka-ri.

See also: "" in from-lo-same-nii svt. Di-mit-ria Rostov-sko-go.

Prayers

Troparion to the Monk Macarius the Great of Egypt, tone 1

A desert inhabitant and in the flesh an angel, / and a miracle worker appeared to you, God-bearer, our father Macarius, / by fasting, vigil, prayer, we receive heavenly gifts, / heal the sick and the souls of those who come by faith. / Glory Yes to Him who crowned you, / glory to Him who crowned you, / / glory to the One who acts by you, healing to all.

Translation: You appeared as a desert dweller, and in the flesh an Angel, and a miracle worker, our Father Macarius: by fasting, having acquired heavenly gifts with prayer, you heal the sick and the souls of those who resort to you with faith. Glory to Him who gave you strength, glory to Him who crowned you, glory to Him who heals all through you.

Kontakion to the Monk Macarius the Great of Egypt, Tone 1

Having died a blessed life in life with martyrlike faces, / worthily settling in the land of the meek, O God-bearing Macarius, / and the desert, as if inhabiting a city, received grace from the God of miracles, / we honor you the same.

Translation: Having ended a blessed life in the assembly of (bloodless, spiritual) martyrs, you worthily settle in the land of the meek (), God-bearing Macarius. Having inhabited the desert, like a city, you received the grace of miracles from God, therefore we honor you.

Prayer to the Monk Macarius the Great, Egyptian

Oh, Reverend Father Macarius! We pray to you, unworthy ones, by your intercession, ask our All-merciful God for us health of mind and body, a quiet and God-pleasing life and a good answer at the Last Judgment of Christ. Quench with your prayers those kindled on the servants of God (names) the arrows of the devil, may sinful malice not touch us, but having piously ended our temporary life, let us be able to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven and glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit with you forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer different to the Monk Macarius the Great, Egyptian

Rev. Father Macarius! Look at us mercifully and raise those who are devoted to the earth to the height of heaven. You are grief in heaven, we are on earth below, removed from you, not only in a place, but with our sins and iniquities, but we run to you and cry out: instruct us to walk in your way, enlighten and guide. Your whole holy life is a mirror of every virtue. Do not stop, pleasing God, crying out to the Lord for us. Ask by your intercession from our All-merciful God the peace of His Church, under the sign of the militant cross, agreement in faith and unity of wisdom, wisdom and schisms, extermination, affirmation in good deeds, healing to the sick, sad comfort intercession for the offended, help for the needy. Do not shame us, who come to you with faith. All Orthodox Christians, by your miracles performed and graces of goodwill, profess to be their patron and intercessor. Reveal the ancients of your mercy, and even their father helped you all, do not reject us, their children, walking in their steps towards you. Your all-honored icon is coming, as I live for you, we bow down and pray: accept our prayers and offer them on the altar of the goodness of God, that we may receive grace and timely help in our needs. Strengthen our faint-heartedness and confirm us in the faith, and we certainly hope to receive all the good things from the mercy of the Lord through your prayers. Oh, great servant of God! To all of us who flow to you with faith, help us with your intercession to the Lord, and guide us all in peace and repentance, die our lives and settle with hope in the blessed bowels of Abraham, where you are joyful in labor and in rest now two times, glorifying God with all the saints , glorified in the Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

Orthodox saints leave us not only a rich legacy of oral stories about the miracles they performed, but also entire collections of theological works, writings, and spiritual conversations. An example of such works are the Theological Scriptures, where we can find the most strong prayers Saint Macarius the Great.

History of Macarius the Great

Saint Macarius the Great was born in the year 300 in the village of Ptinapor (Lower Egypt). Left without a wife and parents, he distributed property to the poor and went on a wandering. During the long years spent in the wilderness, he visited several holy elders, studied and prayed with them, preaching love for God. The monk became famous for his many exploits: they claimed that the prayer of St. Macarius the Great, the Egyptian could not only heal the sick, but even return the dead.

How do prayers help Saint Macarius the Great, the Egyptian?

The saint died at the age of 90. They began to call him Great during his lifetime, and after his death he left behind not only the glory of his exploits and miraculous healings, but also dozens of writings and Orthodox prayers of Macarius the Great.

The saint is asked to:

• about patronage;
• about the gift of wisdom;
• about strengthening the spirit and faith;
• for help in life's difficulties.

Prayer 1st, Saint Macarius the Great

Among all the prayers, it is the morning prayer to this saint that has the greatest power. The text of the prayer in Russian must be read immediately after waking up, along with other morning prayers.

God, cleanse me, a sinner, for I have never done good before You, but deliver me from evil and may Your will be in me, so that I do not open my unworthy mouth in judgment and praise Your holy name, the Father, and the Son, and Holy Spirit now, and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer 2, his

Rising from sleep, I offer the midnight song to You, Savior, and falling down at Your feet, I cry out to You: do not let me fall asleep in sinful death, but have pity on me, who voluntarily endured the crucifixion, and soon raise me, carelessly lying, and save me, standing before you in prayer. And after a night's sleep, send me a clear, sinless day, Christ God, and save me.

Prayer 3, his

In the prayer of Macarius the Great to God the Father, we show the Lord that, upon waking up, we want to do things that are pleasing to Him and ask His blessing in these matters.

To Thee, Lord Lover of mankind, having risen from sleep, I hasten, and I take up the deeds pleasing to Thee, according to Thy mercy, and I pray to Thee: help me at all times, in every deed, and deliver me from every evil vicissitudes in this world and from the devil help, and save me, and lead me into Your eternal kingdom. For You are my Creator and Provider and Giver of all good things. And in You is all my hope, and I send glory to You, now, and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer 4, his

Lord, by Your many goodness and Your great mercy You have given me, Your servant, the past time of this night to pass without adversity from any evil of the enemy. You Yourself, Lord, Creator of everything, vouchsafe me with Your true light and an enlightened heart to do Your will, now, and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

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Life of Saint Macarius of Corinth

Compiled by Athanasius Parios, his friend
(briefly by K. Kavarnos)

1863, Chios

Corinth is the most ancient and 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 a brilliant ancient family of Byzantine senators Notaros. St. Gerasimos 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.

The 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. Macarius, named Michael in holy baptism. His godfather was Archbishop Parthenius of Corinth.

When the boy reached school age, he was sent to study church reading and writing by Eustathius in Kefalonia. From an early age, Michael showed a desire only for the spiritual. He was not interested in anything worldly. He lived a very pious life. He strove to attend church services and avoided the company of youths and worldly fuss.

With the help of his father, who was an influential politician, Mikhail became the manager of several villages. The father wanted his son to be able to get rich in this way. However, Michael distributed large sums of money to the needy, and his father often scolded him. In the end, Michael 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 grant 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' home, Michael began to read and study the Divine Scriptures and other spiritual books. Later, since the Corinthian school had no 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 chose the pious Michael as a candidate for the bishopric. (After he was elected as a candidate, he was tonsured a monk with the name Macarius). So, equipped with letters of recommendation, accompanied by distinguished people, he went to Constantinople and appeared before the Holy Synod. The patriarch at that time was Samuel I Khaizeris. In Constantinople Macarius was ordained archbishop of Corinth.

When he returned to the diocese entrusted to him by God, he saw how great love for him was: all the Christians of this area celebrated the day of his return, rejoicing, glorifying God for hearing their prayers and giving them such a good shepherd. Indeed, they were not mistaken in their expectations. For, as in early childhood, 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 enjoying and acquiring wealth, but as a paternal concern for the safety and salvation of his spiritual flock, for which he would be responsible to the High Shepherd, 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 the holy churches with great love, kindness, and humility. Up to that time, as a result of either the neglect or the ignorance of his predecessors, his whole diocese was full of disorder and lawlessness, and the ecclesiastical 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 retired all insufficiently educated priests, as well as those who were not able to adequately perform the priestly ministry because of 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 "Khojambasides". Those who did not obey this institution, he forbade in the priesthood. When ordination of priests, he strictly observed the Apostolic and Council rules. He never ordained priests or other clerks for money. He ordained only those who were worthy by the gift of the Holy Spirit. Moreover, he did not ordain anyone under the appropriate age, despite the need for priests in his diocese. Testing those who wanted to become priests, he sent all who were not sufficiently prepared to the monasteries so that they could spend there on education and training money that they would have previously given for ordination. He also did not ordain deacons as priests without first teaching them how to do all church services, and handed out the Catechism to all the clergy for study. In all the towns and villages of his region, he set up 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 graciously, with paternal care, shepherded his verbal flock.

But in 1768, during the reign of Sultan Mustafa, a war broke out between the Russians and the Turks, and the Russian fleet appeared near the Peloponnese. Father of St. Macarius, foreseeing and fearing the tragic consequences, took him and the whole family and headed for the island of Zakynthos. On the way, they encountered pirates, who robbed them of everything they had. Luckily, none of them were killed. 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 gave 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. Gerasim. Three months later he returned to Zakynthos and lived there for another three years. Then he went to the island of Hydra, where he remained in the monastery of the Most Holy Theotokos 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 to alleviate the grief of St. Macarius, the Synod allowed him to serve freely 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 sought to get. 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 celebrated requiems 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. 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 the close ones of 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 forbidding this? I have never performed and will never perform requiems for the dead on Sunday.” After that, those close to the deceased patriarch began to threaten him and sent his letter to the Ecumenical Patriarch.

Disappointed by all this, St. Macarius left Athos and returned to Chios. From here he went to Patmos, where he met and befriended the holy fathers Niphon of Chios, Gregory of Nisyros and Athanasius of Armenia. All of them had also left Saint Athos a few years earlier due to scandals related to memorial services.

A year later, Father St. Macarius is dead. At the request of his brothers, St. Macarius came to Hydra, and together they went to Corinth. Here they peacefully divided their father's inheritance under the supervision of St. Macarius. 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 debts. Entire families of debtors praised their benefactor, St. Macarius and 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 one I heard about St. Macarius, received him with respect and reverence. As a man of God. He not only gladly offered hospitality to St. Macarius in his house, but also gave him money for the publication of the holy "Philokalia", a wonderful spiritual book. Influenced by 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, wishing to spend the rest of his life in the desert (hesychasterion), doing spiritual work. He bought from the city of Chios the deserts of St. Petra 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, Hieromonk Niphon of Chios, with whom St. Macarius met earlier, together with several monks 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 the benefactors of Smyrna and Chios. Thanks to this help, a small cenobitic 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 in Chios. The fertile nature of this place had a very beneficial effect on him, especially in view of his poor health, because of which he had previously suffered constantly. Living in the desert, he felt good and, being away from noisy cities and worldly bustle, he 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, which God shows for the benefit of others, or which become known later, thanks to their disciples. It is truth. We can say about St. Macarius. Only God the All-Knowing saw and knew his struggle and spiritual exploits in the desert, for, striving to please only Him, St. Macarius concealed them more carefully than a vicious person hides his crimes. That is why we write here about St. Macarius only what many people knew for sure, and what every modern inhabitant of Chios knows: about his constant long fasts, in addition to the canonical ones, which he observed with great strictness, like the dogmas of faith, without any doubt about it. That the Holy Canons are not human institutions, but those of the Holy Spirit. It was completely different from today's Christians, who show indifference and contempt for the Holy Canons, considering them to be 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 at the same time saying that God is nowhere. did not command the man to fast.

St. Macarius, who observed both the canonical and additional fasts that he imposed on himself, considered wine and oil to be the two main enemies, claimed that they were injurious 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. Macarius we know for sure from the stories of many people, especially his disciple Jacob. And there is no doubt that St. Through such an ascetic life Macarius attained the likeness of God and was kindled with the fire of Divine love. The proof of this is the miraculous works of Divine grace, which are still being performed today through an appeal to him. Thus, the deeds of St. Macarius, invisible to many during his lifetime, are now confirmed by events that are obvious and known to everyone. And as the holy father Isaac the Syrian writes: “It is impossible for those who tirelessly lead such a way of life to remain without the great gifts of God, since they have acquired inner attention, sobriety of the heart and freedom from concern for worldly affairs. The soul that labors and ascends in its pursuit of 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, showed himself to be a true angelic contemplator of the heavenly.

The Holy Fathers teach that prayer is a conversation with God. Everyone who has heard St. Macarius in the church, reading the psalms and the Holy Gospel, confess that his reading was really 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, estranged from everything material and human. Undoubtedly, at that time his mind was completely directed towards God, and not only what came from the lips of St. 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 kept repeating the words of the Apostle to the Gentiles: For God we are companions» (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 paternal advice, instructions and instructive books. Thus, Theodore of Byzantium, Demetrius of Peloponnesus and many others were inspired to martyrdom by reading the composition of St. Macarius book "Martyrology" about the spiritual exploits of the martyrs. And we heard that a layman from Enos said that he carefully read The Philokalia twice and intends to study it a third time.

How great was the desire of St. Macarius for the salvation of all Christians shows the following: after reading a small book "Christian Apologia" and being excited by it, he collected 500 copper coins in order to reprint this instructive book.

It must be added that St. Macarius. While in monastic seclusion 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 in this church on 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. First, his hearers saw before them the Bishop of Corinth, dressed in very poor vestments, and addressing them with humility. Secondly, instead of receiving money for his labors, he offered financial assistance to those in need: one to pay off debts, another for his daughter's wedding, and many others for other needs. The following incident shows the fruitfulness of the sermons and teachings of the Saint: one woman from a neighboring village found three pounds of silk and was looking for the one who had lost them in order to return them. To those who wondered, she said: “How can I leave this silk when the blessed one will never allow us to do this?” When asked who this blessed one was, she answered: “Archbishop of Corinth. He taught us that if we find something that belongs to someone else, we must return it to the person who lost it or we sin. And what's more, we shouldn't ask for a reward to return a loss."

However, this great love of St. Macarius to his neighbors, his sympathy for their needs began to disturb his peace, especially when, on the advice of friends, the needy began to come to him, not only from nearby places, but also from distant regions. And since some of them needed significant help, the holy father was forced to turn to wealthy people for alms for those in need. Since he did not want to annoy others, but also could not let go of those who came to him for help empty-handed, 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 Mysteries" contains nothing else than statements from the Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, the canons of the Apostles and Councils, the statements of the Holy Fathers and their explanation in modern Greek. All of them contain the same teaching that frequent Communion of the Divine Mysteries is holy and leads to salvation. Thus, this book is quite legal and canon. But for a while, injustice and malice took over. So, after reading this book, one stupid Athos monk sent it to the Ecumenical Patriarch in Constantinople, writing as much bad things as he could about it. Procopius of Peloponnese, formerly Bishop of Smyrna. He was elevated to the patriarchal throne at that time. Angered by the accusations, on behalf of the Synod he 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 St. Athos fought with all their might to ensure that the decision of the patriarch was revised, but to no avail. Later, when Neophyte of Smyrna became patriarch (in 1789), a close friend of St. Macarius, he canceled the decision of his predecessor regarding the book. And he sent the following letter to the saint:

“His Holiness Metropolitan, former Corinthian, beloved in the Holy Spirit, brother and companion Macarius, grace on your episcopacy and peace from God! Regarding your work “On the Permanent Communion of the Holy Mysteries”, which you published, we inform you that it was considered by the Synod, carefully studied and approved. It is ecclesiologically lawful and contains nothing 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 is approved by the Synod as instructive and leading to salvation. And all who wish to acquire and read it are free to do so, and must be guided by their confessors on any questions that arise.

Because of the rumors spreading that an ecclesiastical 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 pleasure of the Holy Spirit, issued a decree repealing the former, that all Christians who have read, are reading or will read this book of yours, specifically “On the Constant Communion of the Holy Mysteries”, 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 God-inspired Fathers of the Church. Now, knowing this, leave all prejudice towards your work, for which you will be rewarded by 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.

That 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 gives crowns. The fighter is the 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 awake, but the flesh is weak» (Matthew 26:41). Gregory the Theologian argues that words of support for the souls of those who have chosen martyrdom bring considerable courage. Everyone is obliged to provide this support. And St. Macarius did just that. Fulfilling the gospel commandment: And the one 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 training. Teaching them and strengthening them with fasting and prayers. Among those in whose souls St. Macarius lit the fire of Divine love, especially Polydor Cypriot (he accepted martyrdom at the hands of the Turks on September 3, 1794 in New Ephesus). He actually showed the good changes that had taken place in him. So, one evening he stood at the door of the hotel and loudly proclaimed: "The Lord will bless you for all the good that you have done to me." Another time when Fr. Jacob called Polydor to dinner, then he saw him in a distant place weeping and sobbing. He told St. Macarius, and the Saint said: "Let him cry, for crying is dear to God and leads to salvation."

The same influence of St. Macarius had on the soul of Theodore of Byzantium. Theodore used to be 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 was called Byzantium), and was hanged by the Turks on February 17, 1795 in Mitylene).

Also St. Macarius influenced the immature, uneducated soul of Demetrius of Peloponnesus. When Demetrius was led to the execution, he, turning to heaven, exclaimed: “Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, for honoring me unworthy of this blessed moment of martyrdom” (he was beheaded in Tripolis Peloponnese on April 13, 1803).

We think we are right to say that St. Macarius, this teacher of the glorious martyrs, in fact belongs to them himself. St. Basil the Great calls the martyrs saints. Therefore, our Saint Macarius, who for many days and nights instructed and strengthened those who were 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 Him, is even more worthy to be considered equal to the martyrs. And just as a 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. Macarius. Who, with his instructions and zeal in word and deed, was with them, their companion and helper.

But the time has come when this Divine Father had to pay the inevitable debt of nature common to all. As soon as he finished the collection of lives of the holy ascetics and martyrs, ancient and modern, which he entitled "New Limonarion", he began to take care of the publication of this book. However, he was suddenly broken by an apoplexy, and the entire right half of his body was paralyzed. His kind and beneficent hand stopped moving.

So suffering and weaving his crown in patience, he thanked the benevolent God and wept incessantly, saying that God punished for sins and he still did not repent. We came to him once and saw him weeping and lamenting that he, having been punished by God, could not repent. We said to him: "Venerable 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 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 communed the Holy Mysteries daily. His close friend, the holy Nilus Kalognomos, stayed by his side, conversing and consoling. Together they reflected, philosophized about the spiritual and contemplative, since the mind of St. Macarius remained intact until the last breath of the Saint.

April 4/17, 1795 St. Macarius betrayed his spirit in the hands of God and entered into the ranks of saints, martyrs, ascetics and saints.

His body was buried on the south side of St. Peter. What he desired 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 St. 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 almighty and all-creating grace of the Holy Spirit, manifested 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, turning to the Saint with faith, and who confessed and proclaimed these healings for all to hear.

Zerubbabel - dilapidated, under his leadership the Jews rebuilt the Temple in Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity.

“Khojambasides” 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 start of the Russian-Turkish war. The Greeks in the Peloponnese, prompted by Russia, rebelled against the Turks. The Turks immediately suspected the Peloponnesian bishops of inciting the rebellion. These suspicions about Macarius were unfounded, since he forbade the clergy of his diocese to participate in politics and he himself was busy all his life exclusively with spiritual affairs. Depriving him of the diocese, the Ecumenical Patriarch decided to assign him an annual allowance of 100 grassies.