St. Macarius, Monk and Greek Father of the Church

St. Macarius, Monk: 300-390 A.D.

Introduction

There is a St. Macarius the Great listed as one of the Greek Fathers of the Church. And there is a Desert Father Macarius of Egypt (also ca. 300-390 A.D.) whom homilies are ascribed to. The context of these homilies is the early monasticism of Syria. Since St. Macarius is from Egypt, there is speculation that these homilies may not originally come from him. Nevertheless, the fifty homilies which comprise these writings, gave it great authority in the Christian East. It also influenced the West after it was translated into Latin and several vernaculars. Some of these sermons and homilies are among the most ecumenical of all Christian texts, and are treasured by Orthodox, Catholics and many Protestants. One of the homilies is Homily 10. And the title of this Homily 10 is: By Lowliness of Mind and Earnestness the Gifts of the Divine Grace are Preserved, But by Pride and Sloth they are Destroyed.

The life of St. Macarius

As regards his life, this St. Macarius the Great, may also have been referred to as St. Macarius the Elder, who also lived between ca. 300-390 A.D. Macarius the Elder was born in Upper Egypt. He was a cattle herder in his youth but early became a hermit, practicing a lot of austerities. He was accused of assaulting a woman but proved his innocence and became somewhat of a hero for his patience and humility during this trying ordeal. To escape the adulation he was receiving, he retired to the desert of Skete when he was thirty. He was also ordained and was very much sought after for his spiritual wisdom.

Then for a time, he was exiled on a small island in the Nile with Macarius the Younger (d. ca. 394 A.D.) and other monks, because the Arian Lucius of Alexandria tried to drive out the desert monks. Later though, he was allowed to return. St. Macarius the Great died after living in Skete for sixty years and is believed to be the first hermit to live there.

References of this article

• Pocket Catholic Dictionary, by John A. Hardon, SJ
• The Essential Writings of Christian Mysticism, by editor Bernard McGinn
• Dictionary of Saints, by John J. Delaney