ENGLISH:
St. Abba Macarius the Great (295-392 A.D.; also known as Macarius of Egypt) was among the most authoritative Desert Fathers of Egypt, and a disciple of St. Anthony the Great. The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates his feast day on January 19 (February 1 by Julian Calendar).
"Fifty spiritual homilies" of St. Macarius of Egypt is an authoritative patristic source. "The Homilies are well described as “spiritual” Homilies. That is their purpose and their character. They are not dogmatic; they are not controversial; they are not expository; they are not concerned with the politics or the expansion of the church; they have little to say about the Christian’s duty to his fellow-men. .. They have but one object, to help to bring individual souls to God in perfect self-subdual and absolute devotion."The current Coptic Orthodox Monastery of St. Macarius the Great, which lies in Wadi Natrun, the ancient Scetis, 92 kilometers from Cairo on the western side of the desert road to Alexandria, was founded in 360 A.D. by the saint, who during his lifetime was spiritual father to more than four thousand monks of different nationalities - Egyptians, Greeks, Ethiopians, Armenians, Nubians, Asians, Palestinians, Italians, Gauls and Spaniards.
Not to be confused with St. Macarius of Alexandria; and St. Macarius the Martyr and Bishop of Edkao (near Assiut, Upper Egypt). The relics of the three Macarii are today preserved at the aforementioned monastery.
Life
St. Macarius, one of the founding fathers of monasticism, was born in the village of Shabsheer, Menuf, Egypt, around 295 A.D. from good and righteous parents. His father's name was Abraham and his mother's name was Sarah and they had no son. In a vision at night, his father saw the angel of the Lord, who told him that God was about to give him a son, and his name will be known all over the earth, and he will have a multitude of spiritual sons. Shortly after this vision, they had a son and called him Macarius, which means "Blessed".
St. Macarius the Great was obedient to his parents, and the grace of God was upon him since his young age. When he grew up his father forced him to get married against his will, so he pretended that he was sick for several days. Then he asked his father if he might go to the wilderness to relax a bit. He went to the wilderness and prayed to the Lord Christ to direct him to do what is pleasing to Him. While he was in the wilderness he saw a vision, and it seemed that one of the Cherubim, with wings, took his hands, and ascended up to the top of the mountain, and showed him all the desert, east and west, and north and south. The Cherub told him, "God has given this desert to you and your sons for an inheritance." When he returned from the wilderness he found that his future wife, who was still virgin, had died, and Macarius thanked the Lord Christ. Shortly after, his parents departed, and he gave all what they had left to the poor and the needy. When the people of Shabsheer saw his chastity and purity, they took him to the bishop of Ashmoun (Egypt) who ordained him a priest for them. They built a place for him outside the city, and they went to him to confess and to partake from the Holy Mysteries.
Then it once happened that an unmarried pregnant girl accused him of fathering her child. The pious saint did not protest; he quietly accepted the responsibility she had unjustly laid on him, and was attacked and beaten by the villagers and the girl's family, who demanded that he support her. He did so, selling the baskets that he wove and giving the money to her parents. When the time came for the girl to give birth, she was in great agony and cried out that it was not St. Macarius, but another man who was her baby's father. As soon as they heard this, the villagers felt ashamed of the way they had treated the saint, and went to ask his forgiveness. When they arrived at his little hut, they found it completely empty; he had fled from their praise and flattery.
St. Macarius was now (c. 330 A.D.) on his way to Scetis, where he would spend most of the remaining sixty years of his life. He dwelt in the inner desert, in the place of the monastery of Sts. Maximus and Domadius (now known as the Coptic Orthodox Monastery of El-Baramous). He went to visit St. Anthony the Great, who said about St. Macarius when he saw him, "This is an Israelite in whom there is no guile." St. Anthony put on him the Great Schema, then St. Macarius returned to his place.
When the number of monks increased around him he built a church for them. St. Macarius' relationship with his fellow monks was a very special one. To them he was the 'aged youth' because, although he was young, having been thirty when he came to Scetis, he had the depth and wisdom of a person much older. St. Macarius fame also grew all over the country and many kings and Emperors heard about the miracles that God performed at his hands. He healed the daughter of the king of Antioch that was possessed by an unclean spirit.
One day he thought that the world had no more righteous people, so a voice came to him from heaven saying: "In the city of Alexandria there are two women who feared God." He took his staff, his provisions, and went to Alexandria and he asked around until he reached their house. When he entered, they welcomed him, washed his feet with warm water, and when he asked them about their life, one of them told him, "There is no kinship between us and when we married these two brothers we asked them to leave us to be nuns but they refused. So we committed ourself to spend our life fasting till evening with many prayers. When each of us had a son, whenever one of them cry, any one of us would carry and nurse him, even if he was not her own son. We are in one living arrangement, the unity in opinion is our model, and our husbands work is shepherding sheep, we are poor and only have our daily bread and what is left over we give it to the poor and the needy." When the saint heard these words he cried saying, "Indeed God looks to the readiness of the heart and grants the grace of His Holy Spirit for all those who wish to worship Him." He bade them farewell and left returning to the wilderness.
It also happened that there was an erring monk who strayed many by his saying that there was no resurrection of the dead. The bishop of the city of Osseem (Egypt) went to St. Macarius and told him about that monk. Abba Macarius went to that monk and stayed with him until the monk believed and renounced his error.
St. Macarius also knew how to be kind to those outside the Christian community. He knew that loving words had a greater effect than harsh ones. The story is told of his once having walked with a younger monk, and passing by a pagan priest, whom the younger monk greeted rather insultingly. But St. Macarius gave him a loving greeting, so much so that the pagan asked why St. Macarius was so thoughtful. The monk answered that he felt sorry for one who did not know that all his worship and effort were in vain. So deeply impressed was the pagan that he ended by joining the monastery, and becoming a model Christian, who attracted many other pagans by his own love and care for them.
St. Macarius the Great also fought Arianism and was exiled c. 374 A.D. to an island in the Nile Delta because of his support to the Orthodox teachings of St. Athanasius the Great. While he was there with St. Macarius of Alexandria, a pagan priest's daughter began to have terrible fits, and everyone agreed she was possessed by a demon. The two monks were able to heal her, and in gratitude, the people tore down their pagan shrine and replaced it with a church. Hearing of this, the authorities were quick to send both monks back to their respective monasteries.
Following this incident, St. Macarius returned to Scetis, where he continued to build on the foundations of monastic living laid by St. Anthony and St. Pachomius. His monastery grew and prospered, as did monastic life in general.
St. Macarius, one of the founding fathers of monasticism, was born in the village of Shabsheer, Menuf, Egypt, around 295 A.D. from good and righteous parents. His father's name was Abraham and his mother's name was Sarah and they had no son. In a vision at night, his father saw the angel of the Lord, who told him that God was about to give him a son, and his name will be known all over the earth, and he will have a multitude of spiritual sons. Shortly after this vision, they had a son and called him Macarius, which means "Blessed".
St. Macarius the Great was obedient to his parents, and the grace of God was upon him since his young age. When he grew up his father forced him to get married against his will, so he pretended that he was sick for several days. Then he asked his father if he might go to the wilderness to relax a bit. He went to the wilderness and prayed to the Lord Christ to direct him to do what is pleasing to Him. While he was in the wilderness he saw a vision, and it seemed that one of the Cherubim, with wings, took his hands, and ascended up to the top of the mountain, and showed him all the desert, east and west, and north and south. The Cherub told him, "God has given this desert to you and your sons for an inheritance." When he returned from the wilderness he found that his future wife, who was still virgin, had died, and Macarius thanked the Lord Christ. Shortly after, his parents departed, and he gave all what they had left to the poor and the needy. When the people of Shabsheer saw his chastity and purity, they took him to the bishop of Ashmoun (Egypt) who ordained him a priest for them. They built a place for him outside the city, and they went to him to confess and to partake from the Holy Mysteries.
Then it once happened that an unmarried pregnant girl accused him of fathering her child. The pious saint did not protest; he quietly accepted the responsibility she had unjustly laid on him, and was attacked and beaten by the villagers and the girl's family, who demanded that he support her. He did so, selling the baskets that he wove and giving the money to her parents. When the time came for the girl to give birth, she was in great agony and cried out that it was not St. Macarius, but another man who was her baby's father. As soon as they heard this, the villagers felt ashamed of the way they had treated the saint, and went to ask his forgiveness. When they arrived at his little hut, they found it completely empty; he had fled from their praise and flattery.
St. Macarius was now (c. 330 A.D.) on his way to Scetis, where he would spend most of the remaining sixty years of his life. He dwelt in the inner desert, in the place of the monastery of Sts. Maximus and Domadius (now known as the Coptic Orthodox Monastery of El-Baramous). He went to visit St. Anthony the Great, who said about St. Macarius when he saw him, "This is an Israelite in whom there is no guile." St. Anthony put on him the Great Schema, then St. Macarius returned to his place.
When the number of monks increased around him he built a church for them. St. Macarius' relationship with his fellow monks was a very special one. To them he was the 'aged youth' because, although he was young, having been thirty when he came to Scetis, he had the depth and wisdom of a person much older. St. Macarius fame also grew all over the country and many kings and Emperors heard about the miracles that God performed at his hands. He healed the daughter of the king of Antioch that was possessed by an unclean spirit.
One day he thought that the world had no more righteous people, so a voice came to him from heaven saying: "In the city of Alexandria there are two women who feared God." He took his staff, his provisions, and went to Alexandria and he asked around until he reached their house. When he entered, they welcomed him, washed his feet with warm water, and when he asked them about their life, one of them told him, "There is no kinship between us and when we married these two brothers we asked them to leave us to be nuns but they refused. So we committed ourself to spend our life fasting till evening with many prayers. When each of us had a son, whenever one of them cry, any one of us would carry and nurse him, even if he was not her own son. We are in one living arrangement, the unity in opinion is our model, and our husbands work is shepherding sheep, we are poor and only have our daily bread and what is left over we give it to the poor and the needy." When the saint heard these words he cried saying, "Indeed God looks to the readiness of the heart and grants the grace of His Holy Spirit for all those who wish to worship Him." He bade them farewell and left returning to the wilderness.
It also happened that there was an erring monk who strayed many by his saying that there was no resurrection of the dead. The bishop of the city of Osseem (Egypt) went to St. Macarius and told him about that monk. Abba Macarius went to that monk and stayed with him until the monk believed and renounced his error.
St. Macarius also knew how to be kind to those outside the Christian community. He knew that loving words had a greater effect than harsh ones. The story is told of his once having walked with a younger monk, and passing by a pagan priest, whom the younger monk greeted rather insultingly. But St. Macarius gave him a loving greeting, so much so that the pagan asked why St. Macarius was so thoughtful. The monk answered that he felt sorry for one who did not know that all his worship and effort were in vain. So deeply impressed was the pagan that he ended by joining the monastery, and becoming a model Christian, who attracted many other pagans by his own love and care for them.
St. Macarius the Great also fought Arianism and was exiled c. 374 A.D. to an island in the Nile Delta because of his support to the Orthodox teachings of St. Athanasius the Great. While he was there with St. Macarius of Alexandria, a pagan priest's daughter began to have terrible fits, and everyone agreed she was possessed by a demon. The two monks were able to heal her, and in gratitude, the people tore down their pagan shrine and replaced it with a church. Hearing of this, the authorities were quick to send both monks back to their respective monasteries.
Following this incident, St. Macarius returned to Scetis, where he continued to build on the foundations of monastic living laid by St. Anthony and St. Pachomius. His monastery grew and prospered, as did monastic life in general.
Hymns
Troparion (Tone 1) Dweller of the desert and angel in the bodyyou were shown to be a wonder-worker, our God-bearing Father Macarius.You received heavenly gifts through fasting, vigil, and prayer:Healing the sick and the souls of those drawn to you by faith.Glory to Him who gave you strength!Glory to Him who granted you a crown!Glory to Him who through you grants healing to all!
Kontakion (Tone 4) The Lord truly placed you in the house of abstinence,As a star enlightening the ends of the earth,Venerable Macarius, Father of Fathers.
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ESPAÑOL:
San Abba Macario el Grande (295-392 d.C .; también conocido como Macario de Egipto) fue uno de los Padres del Desierto más autorizados de Egipto y discípulo de San Antonio el Grande. La Iglesia Ortodoxa celebra su fiesta el 19 de enero (1 de febrero según el calendario juliano). "Cincuenta homilías espirituales" de San Macario de Egipto es una fuente patrística autorizada. "Las Homilías están bien descritas como Homilías" espirituales ". Ese es su propósito y su carácter. No son dogmáticas; no son controvertidas; no son expositivas; no se preocupan por la política o la expansión de la iglesia; tienen poco que decir acerca del deber del cristiano para con sus semejantes ... Tienen un solo objetivo, ayudar a llevar las almas individuales a Dios en perfecta devoción absoluta y auto-subdual."
El actual monasterio copto ortodoxo de San Macario el Grande, que se encuentra en Wadi Natrun, la antigua Scetis, a 92 kilómetros de El Cairo en el lado occidental de la carretera del desierto a Alejandría, fue fundado en 360 d.C. por el santo, quien durante su vida fue padre espiritual de más de cuatro mil monjes de diferentes nacionalidades: egipcios, griegos, etíopes, armenios, nubios, asiáticos, palestinos, italianos, galos y españoles.
No confundir con San Macario de Alejandría; y San Macario Mártir y Obispo de Edkao (cerca de Assiut, Alto Egipto). Las reliquias de los tres Macarii se conservan hoy en el monasterio antes mencionado.
San Macario, uno de los padres fundadores del monaquismo, nació en el pueblo de Shabsheer, Menuf, Egipto, alrededor del 295 d.C. de padres buenos y justos. El nombre de su padre era Abraham y el nombre de su madre era Sara y no tuvieron ningún hijo. En una visión nocturna, su padre vio al ángel del Señor, quien le dijo que Dios estaba a punto de darle un hijo, y su nombre será conocido en toda la tierra, y tendrá una multitud de hijos espirituales. Poco después de esta visión, tuvieron un hijo y lo llamaron Macario, que significa "Bendito."
San Macario el Grande fue obediente a sus padres y la gracia de Dios estuvo con él desde su juventud. Cuando creció su padre lo obligó a casarse en contra de su voluntad, por lo que fingió estar enfermo durante varios días. Luego le preguntó a su padre si podía ir al desierto para relajarse un poco. Fue al desierto y oró al Señor Cristo para que lo guiara a hacer lo que le agrada. Mientras estaba en el desierto tuvo una visión, y le pareció que uno de los querubines, con alas, tomó sus manos y ascendió a la cima de la montaña, y le mostró todo el desierto, al este y al oeste, y al norte. y sur. El Querubín le dijo: "Dios te ha dado este desierto a ti ya tus hijos por herencia". Cuando regresó del desierto se encontró con que su futura esposa, que aún era virgen, había muerto, y Macario agradeció al Señor Cristo. Poco después, sus padres se fueron y él dio todo lo que les quedaba a los pobres y necesitados. Cuando la gente de Shabsheer vio su castidad y pureza, lo llevaron al obispo de Ashmoun (Egipto), quien lo ordenó sacerdote para ellos. Le construyeron un lugar fuera de la ciudad, y fueron a él para confesar y participar de los Santos Misterios.
San Macario estaba ahora (c. 330 d.C.) en camino a Scetis, donde pasaría la mayor parte de los sesenta años restantes de su vida. Habitaba en el desierto interior, en el lugar del monasterio de los Santos. Maximus y Domadius (ahora conocido como el monasterio copto ortodoxo de El-Baramous). Fue a visitar a San Antonio el Grande, quien dijo de San Macario cuando lo vio: "Este es un israelita en quien no hay engaño." San Antonio le puso el Gran Esquema, luego San Macario regresó a su lugar.
Un día pensó que en el mundo ya no había gente justa, por eso le llegó una voz del cielo que le decía: "En la ciudad de Alejandría hay dos mujeres que temían a Dios." Tomó su cayado, sus provisiones, se fue a Alejandría y preguntó por ahí hasta llegar a su casa. Cuando entró, lo recibieron, le lavaron los pies con agua tibia, y cuando les preguntó por su vida, uno de ellos le dijo: "No hay parentesco entre nosotros y cuando nos casamos con estos dos hermanos les pedimos que nos dejaran". para ser monjas, pero se negaron. Así que nos comprometimos a pasar nuestra vida ayunando hasta la noche con muchas oraciones. Cuando cada una de nosotras tenía un hijo, cada vez que una de ellas lloraba, cualquiera de nosotros lo cargaba y lo amamantaba, incluso si estaba no su propio hijo. Estamos en un arreglo de vida, la unidad de opinión es nuestro modelo, y el trabajo de nuestro esposo es pastorear ovejas, somos pobres y solo tenemos nuestro pan de cada día y lo que sobra se lo damos a los pobres y a los necesitado." Cuando el santo escuchó estas palabras, lloró diciendo: "De hecho, Dios busca la disponibilidad del corazón y concede la gracia de su Espíritu Santo a todos aquellos que deseen adorarlo." Se despidió de ellos y se fue de regreso al desierto.
San Macario también supo ser amable con los que están fuera de la comunidad cristiana. Sabía que las palabras amorosas tenían un efecto mayor que las duras. Se cuenta la historia de que una vez caminó con un monje más joven y pasó junto a un sacerdote pagano, a quien el monje más joven saludó de manera bastante insultante. Pero San Macario le dio un saludo cariñoso, tanto que el pagano preguntó por qué San Macario estaba tan atento. El monje respondió que sentía lástima por alguien que no sabía que toda su adoración y esfuerzo fueron en vano. El pagano quedó tan profundamente impresionado que terminó por unirse al monasterio y convertirse en un cristiano modelo, que atrajo a muchos otros paganos por su propio amor y cuidado por ellos.
San Macario el Grande también luchó contra el arrianismo y fue exiliado c. 374 A.D. a una isla en el Delta del Nilo debido a su apoyo a las enseñanzas ortodoxas de San Atanasio el Grande. Mientras estaba allí con San Macario de Alejandría, la hija de un sacerdote pagano comenzó a tener ataques terribles, y todos estuvieron de acuerdo en que estaba poseída por un demonio. Los dos monjes pudieron curarla y, en agradecimiento, la gente derribó su santuario pagano y lo reemplazó con una iglesia. Al enterarse de esto, las autoridades se apresuraron a enviar a ambos monjes de regreso a sus respectivos monasterios.
Después de este incidente, San Macario regresó a Scetis, donde continuó construyendo sobre los cimientos de la vida monástica colocados por San Antonio y San Pacomio. Su monasterio creció y prosperó, al igual que la vida monástica en general.
Troparion (Tono 1) Habitante del desierto y ángel en el cuerpo, fuiste mostrado como un hacedor de maravillas, nuestro Padre Macario, portador de Dios. Recibiste dones celestiales a través del ayuno, vigilia y oración: Sanando a los enfermos y las almas de aquellos. atraído a ti por la fe. ¡Gloria a Aquel que te dio fuerza! ¡Gloria a Aquel que te concedió una corona! ¡Gloria a Aquel que a través de ti otorga sanidad a todos!
Kontakion (Tono 4) El Señor verdaderamente te colocó en la casa de la abstinencia, Como una estrella que ilumina los confines de la tierra, Venerable Macario, Padre de los Padres.
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