Roman martyrology: Priest and abbot in the mountains of Scete, Egypt.

SHORT BIOGRAPHY

Macarius was born about the year 300 in Alexandria. He was a merchant until the age of 40, when he was baptized and went off into the desert. After several years of ascetic life he was ordained a presbyter and appointed prior of a monastery known as the “Kellii,” or “cells” in the Egyptian desert, between the Nitria mountain and a skete in which monastic hermits lived in silence, each in his own cell.[3]

About the year 335 he retired to live alone as a recluse in el-Natroun desert.[2] Many miracles were ascribed to him. He presided over five thousand Nitric monks.

Having learned of the extremely strict rule for monastic life observed at the Tabbenesiot Monastery, whose prior was Venerable St. Pachomios the Great (+ 348), St. Macarius disguised himself in secular clothing, and over the course of the entire Quadragesima [the 40-day Great Lent] neither ate bread nor drank water.[3] No one saw him eating or sitting down. He was making baskets of palm leaves while he was standing. The monks said to Saint Pachomius: "Cast out this man from here, for he is not human." A divine inspiration subsequently revealed Macarius' identity to him, and the monks rushed to receive his blessings.[2] Having demonstrated humility and taught a lesson to all, St. Macarius returned to his own monastery.

At the age of 73 Macarius of Alexandria was exiled by Emperor Valens, along with Macarius of Egypt to an island,[3] which they subsequently Christianized.

According to Eastern Orthodox tradition, Macarius of Alexandria departed on 2 January 395. According to the Coptic Orthodox tradition, he departed on 1 May 395 A.D.