Macarius of Alexandria

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Saint Macarius of Alexandria
Monk, Ascetic
Born	4th century, Egypt
Died	395, Egypt
Venerated in	Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Churches, Oriental Orthodox Churches
Feast	2 January (Eastern Orthodox) (Roman Catholic Church) 1 May = (6 Pashons, 111 A.M.) (Coptic Orthodox)
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Saint Macarius of Alexandria (d. 395)^[1] was a monk in the Nitrian Desert. He was a slightly younger contemporary of Macarius of Egypt, and is thus also known as Macarius the Younger. He was also known as ho politikos.^[2] He was an extreme ascetic, and numerous miracles were ascribed to him. He presided over five thousand Nitric monks.

Once, he went to the monastery of Saint Pachomius in a layman's garment, and stayed there during the forty days of Lent. 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. When he found that his virtues have been revealed, he returned to his monastery in Scetes.

Macarius of Alexandria was exiled by Emperor Valens, along with Macarius of Egypt to an island, which they subsequently Christianized.

According to Eastern Orthodox tradition, Macarius of Alexandria departed on January 2, 395. According to the Coptic Orthodox tradition, he departed on May 1, 395 A.D. (6 Pashons, 111 A.M.)

In addition to a monastic rule and three brief apothegms, a homily "On the End of the Souls of the Righteous and of Sinners" is ascribed to him, although excellent Vienna manuscripts assign the latter to a monk named Alexander. Palladius and Sozomen also mention a Macarius the Younger of Lower Egypt, who lived in a cell for more than twenty three years to atone for a murder which he had committed.

This article includes content derived from the Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, 1914, which is in the public domain.