On the 19th day of January
From the «Lives of the Saints» of St. Demetrius (Dimitri) of Rostov
Ptinapar, Abraham and Sarah, and the Vision of the Patriarch
The country of this venerable Macarius was the land of Egypt, a village called Ptinapar. But at first his parents lived in Egypt itself, and were namesakes of the most ancient of the holy forefathers — Abraham and Sarah. And Abraham, the father of Macarius, was by rank a presbyter. And because they were barren, they separated themselves from the marriage bed, but did not separate themselves from love, and remained for a good number of years, not drawing near in body, but joined in spirit. And they adorned their life with abstinence and fasting, with prayers and vigils, with alms and hospitality and many other virtues. And there came, by the permission of God, an unexpected invasion of barbarians upon Egypt, and their estate was plundered by barbarian hands, and they became very poor — and thought to go out of their own country. And on one of the nights, when his father Abraham was sleeping, the holy patriarch Abraham appeared to him, honourable in appearance and bright with beauty, shining with a sun-like garment; and he, comforting him and bidding him have hope in the Lord, counselled him not to depart altogether from the lands of Egypt, but only to move to the village called Ptinapar, which lies within the borders of Egypt, and not to deprive himself and his wife of marital union. “For God wishes,” he said, “to bless you with divine fruit, as He blessed me: to me, a sojourner in the land of Canaan, He gave a son in old age.” And the presbyter Abraham, waking from sleep, told his vision to the lady Sarah — and they both gave glory to God and, without delay, moved to the village named.
The Sickness, the Angel in the Vision, and the Birth of Macarius
And that village lay not far from the Nitrian desert, and, as may be known, the providence of God moved Macarius’ parents there for this reason, that the desert life might the more easily be loved by that son who was to be born of them. And when this father Abraham was dwelling with his lady in the village of Ptinapar, it befell him to fall into a great sickness, and he expected to die. And one night, lying on the bed of sickness, he slept a little and saw such a vision: he seemed to see an angel of God, who came out from the altar, drew near to him and said: “Abraham, Abraham, rise from your bed.” And he answered him: “I am sick, O Lord, and cannot rise.” And the angel, taking him by the hand with compassion, spoke to him with a gentle voice: “God has had mercy on you, and will take your sickness away from you, and will grant you His blessing: for your wife Sarah will bear you a son, namesake of blessedness, a dwelling of the Holy Spirit, who will live angelically on earth and will bring many to God.” And waking from that vision, the sick man at once felt himself wholly in health, and rising up, full of fear and joy, he walked, and told everything seen and said by the angel in the vision to his wife Sarah. And that this was the truth was assured by his sudden complete health, which came after a great sickness. And together they gave thanks to God, their most merciful benefactor. And after this Sarah conceived in her old age, and when the time was fulfilled, she bore a boy, and they named him Macarius, which means blessed, and enlightened him with holy baptism.
The Unwilling Marriage, the Night in the Bridal Chamber, and the Vision at the Nitrian Lake
And when the boy came to manhood and was well instructed in the divine books, his parents, as though forgetting the angelic announcement concerning him in the vision, wished to join him to a wife, though he did not wish it. But he refused in every way, desiring the one incorruptible Bride — to be yoked with a blessed life. Yet, being persuaded, he submitted to his parents’ will, having devised a good counsel in his mind. And when the wedding feast was held and the youth Macarius was led into the bridal chamber, he feigned a certain sickness, which as though suddenly attacked him. And he did not touch the bride — he came out of the bed pure, lifting up the eyes of his heart to the one God and putting his hope in Him, and prayed earnestly to Him, that He would grant him soon to be freed from worldly life and become a monk. And on one of the days it happened that someone of their own people was going to Mount Nitria to bring nitre from there, for much of it is found there, because of which that mountain is called Nitrian. And Macarius also went with them, at the command of his parents. And coming to the Nitrian lake, he turned aside a little from the road, wishing to rest, and fell asleep. And, as it seemed, in sleep he saw a certain wondrous man, who shone with light and said to him: “Do you see, Macarius, these desert places? Look upon them: for it behoves you to dwell in these deserts.”
The Bride’s Fever, the Death of His Parents, and the Giving Away of His Estate
And waking from that vision, Macarius pondered on what had been said to him and did not understand what it was to be: for at that time there were no desert-dwellers, except the great Antony, and somewhere in the inner desert of the Thebaid Paul, quite unknown to anyone. And after three days he returned home from Nitria, and found his bride sick with a fever, who was already at the point of death, and said to himself: “Macarius, be careful and take care for your soul, for it behoves you also soon to leave this life.” And it was evident that Macarius cared for nothing earthly, but always abode in the temple of the Lord and gave himself to the reading of the divine books. And his parents, seeing such a life in him, did not dare even to mention a woman’s name before his face, but rejoiced at his chastity. And his father Abraham grew very old and lay in sickness, and lost his eyes also through old age and infirmities, and the blessed Macarius served him earnestly and diligently. Then the elder also departed, full of days, and was gathered to his fathers. And when six months had passed after the departure of his father Abraham, the lady Sarah, Macarius’ mother, also died in the Lord.
The Elder in the Church, the Night Prayer, and the Ecstasy
And he, having committed his parents to the customary Christian burial, was himself free from everything, and having given away to the needy all that remained from his parents, he had this sorrow, that he had no one to whom to open the secrets of his heart and seek good counsel — to whom to turn and from whom to be instructed in a God-pleasing life; and he prayed earnestly to God about this, that He would send him a good instructor, who would show him the way of salvation. And the memory of one of the saints drew near, for whom, according to the custom of his parents, he wished to keep a feast — and he prepared a meal not only for the neighbours, but more for beggars and the poor. Then, standing in the church at the singing, he saw that a certain old monk entered the church, who had grey hair and a beard down to his waist, pale of face from fasting, very honourable in appearance, and the image of his inner soul also was adorned with the beauty of the virtues. And he lived not very far from that village, somewhere in a silent place, having a solitary cell, and showed himself to no one; but at that time — God so ordered it — he came to the village church for the Communion of the All-pure Mysteries. And after the celebration of the Divine Liturgy Macarius entreated this monk to come into his house for the common meal. And after the meal and sufficient entertainment of all, when each departed to his own, Macarius detained the monk a little and, taking him aside, fell at the elder’s feet with these words: “Do not forbid me, father, to come early in the morning to your reverence, for I wish to have you as a good counsellor concerning my life.” And the elder answered: “Come, child, when you wish.” And he went away from him. And when morning came, Macarius went to the elder and told him all the secrets of his heart — how he desired with all his heart to labour for the Lord, and asked the elder to instruct him in what he ought to do. And the elder kept him that day with himself in soul-profitable discourses, and when the sun was setting, having taken a little bread with salt, the elder bade Macarius rest.
The Elder’s Counsel, the Monastic Beginning, and the Service of a Cleric
And he himself rose up to prayer, and lifting his mind on high, was in ecstasy; and the night was already deep, and he saw a choir of white-robed monks, who had wings, which surrounded Macarius and said: “Rise, Macarius, and begin the service commanded you by God; do not put it off to another time, for a lazy man wars unwisely, but the unlazy takes away the price of the lazy.” And seeing this, that divine elder told Macarius everything in the morning, and sending him away, said: “Child, what you wish to do, do it the sooner: for God calls you for the salvation of many; from now on therefore do not be lazy in God-pleasing deeds.” And having taught him much concerning prayer, and vigil, and fasting, he let him go in peace. And the blessed Macarius, returning to his house, gave away everything to the last to beggars, leaving nothing for his own need, and after a few days, being freed from all the cares of life, and himself becoming as one of the beggars, he came again to the elder, giving himself wholly to the sweet service of the Lord. And the elder, receiving the divine youth Macarius with love, and showing him the beginnings of the monastic silent life, and teaching him the handiwork which befits monks (to plait baskets), arranged for him another cell in another place not far from himself; for that father loved to live alone in God. And he led the disciple into it, giving him the fitting commandments concerning prayer, and food, and handiwork. And when the blessed Macarius had so begun with God to tread the narrow path of the monastic life, and passed day by day in the Law of the Lord, it happened after a certain time that the bishop of that land came into that village. And learning of the blessed Macarius from the inhabitants of that village, he called him to himself and by force made him a cleric of the village church, when he was still young. And not many days later, being wearied by the service of a cleric, for by it he had interrupted his silence, Macarius fled from there and settled somewhere near another village.
The Assaults of Demons, and the Girl Slandered Against Him
And there came to him a certain simple, reverent man, and served him, taking his handiwork, selling it and bringing him food. But the demon, not enduring to see himself trodden underfoot by the young monk, armed himself against him with divers wiles and warred upon him, sometimes bringing unworthy thoughts, sometimes attacking him with apparitions and fears. And when he kept vigil in night prayer, he shook the hut to its foundations, and sometimes turned himself into a serpent and, crawling on the ground, rushed at him. But the blessed Macarius, hedging himself about with prayer and the sign of the Cross, counted his wiles as nothing, saying with David: “I will not fear the terror by night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the thing that walks in darkness.” For the evil one, not being able to overcome the invincible man, devised against him such a trick. A certain man of the inhabitants of that village had a daughter, a girl, whom a certain youth asked for lawful marriage; but because he was poor and very simple, the parents sent that youth away and would not give their daughter to him. And the girl loved the youth, and being kindled with mutual love for one another, they joined secretly, and it appeared that the girl was with child. And when she asked the youth what answer to give her parents, he, having within him the teacher of evil, said: “Say that the hermit did this to you.” And she, listening to the evil counsel, sharpened her serpentine tongue against the innocent monk, and when her parents learned that the girl was pregnant, and began to beat her, asking with whom she had fallen, she said: “With your hermit, whom you consider holy.
The Beating, the Rotten Vessels, and the Words of an Honourable Man
Once, when I was outside the village and drew near to the place where he lives, he met me on the road and did violence.” And through shame and fear I told no one of this until today.” And with these words, as with certain arrows, her parents and kinsmen were wounded, and all rushed together to the saint and ran to his cell, filling the air with shouting and with stinging words. And dragging him out of the cell, they beat him a long time and led him with them into the village. And they gathered much rotten ware, blackened pitchers, ears of pots, and chaining them together, hung them upon his neck, and led him through the village with inexpressible mockery, beating him, pushing him, tearing his hair, kicking him with their feet and crying: “This monk has defiled our daughter; let all take him and beat him.” And it happened that a certain honourable man was passing there, and saw what was being done, and said to those who beat him: “How long will you beat the innocent wondrous monk, without learning exactly whether it is true? I think that it is a temptation, and not the truth.” But they did not listen to the man, and did their own evil. And that lover of Christ, who served Macarius for God’s sake, selling his handiwork, followed the one led away from a distance, and was ashamed, and wept, and could not forbid it nor take Macarius out of their hands: they surrounded him like dogs. And they turned and rushed at him also with threats and reproaches: “Behold,” they said, “what the hermit whom you serve has done.” And they beat Macarius with a whip, until their fury and anger were exhausted, and he lay half dead on the road.
The Servant’s Suretyship, the Handiwork, and the Money for the Girl’s Food
And the parents of that girl said: “We will not let him go until he gives us a surety that he will feed our daughter, whom he has made heavy.” And Macarius, barely alive, said to him who served him: “Be surety for me, O man.” And he, ready even to die for him, gave surety, and taking Macarius, could barely lead him to his cell: from his fierce wounds he could not walk. And after this, being somewhat healed, he began to give himself to handiwork, saying to himself: “Macarius, you have a wife and children; you must labour day and night to feed them.” And he made baskets, and sold them by the hand of his servant, and sent the money earned for the girl’s food. And when the time came for her to bear, the righteous Judgement of God overtook her, for that she had spoken iniquity against the righteous man — and she could not give birth. For she suffered many days and nights, crying bitterly from great pain, for what was to be born could not come out of her. And her parents also were grieved at heart, seeing her in such torment. And they did not understand, saying: “What is this?” But she then, though she did not wish it, told the truth, crying out exceedingly: “Woe is me, wretched one, worthy of a hundred thousand deaths, for I slandered the righteous man and lied, saying that he was guilty of my defilement. But he is innocent; the youth who wished to take me, he did this to me.”
The Judgement of God upon the Slanderer, and the Flight by Night to Nitria
And her parents and all her kinsmen heard this and were as though amazed — for shame and fear came upon them, that they had dared so to insult an innocent monk, who is a servant of God. And they cried out: “Woe to us and alas!” And it became known throughout the whole village, and all ran together, small and great, to the court of that man, and heard what the girl had said, that the hermit was not guilty, and condemned themselves and reproached themselves, for all had laid their hands mercilessly upon the saint. And they all took counsel together with the parents of that girl to go to the servant of God and fall with weeping at his feet, asking forgiveness, lest the anger of God overtake them all for the innocent insult to him. And hearing this, Macarius’ servant and surety hastened quickly to the saint with gladness and said to him: “Rejoice, father Macarius, for this day has appeared good and bright for us, for God has turned the first insult into glory, and from now on I shall be free from my suretyship, and you have proved a passionless, and righteous, and most glorious sufferer. For that unrighteous slanderer, who composed the slander against you, the judgement of God has overtaken, and she cannot give birth, and has told that you are innocent before her, but a certain youth; and behold, all the villagers from the least to the greatest wish to come to you with repentance, to glorify God for your chastity and patience, and to ask forgiveness of you, lest some punishment of God come upon them for having insulted you.” And hearing this, the humble-minded Macarius took it heavily, not wishing human honour and glory, for he preferred to receive dishonour rather than honour from men.
The Cave, Antony the Great, and the Scetic Desert
And when night came, he rose up and fled from there, and went first to Mount Nitria, where once, sleeping, he had seen the vision. And there, having lived three years in a certain cave, he went to the Great Antony, who was passing his ascetic labours on Mount Pharän, for he had heard of him long before, when he was still in the world, and wished to see him. And the venerable Antony received him courteously, and Macarius became his sincere disciple. And he remained with the venerable man a good while, being instructed in the perfect life in the virtues, and was in everything an imitator of his father. And from him he was sent into the Scetic desert for a solitary life, and showed many labours, and attained so much in monasticism that he surpassed the other brothers. And they called him “the young elder”, because in young years he showed an elder’s life. And he wrestled with demons by day and by night: sometimes, openly turning themselves into various shapes and apparitions, the demons sat on horses like armed warriors and hastened to the struggle, and attacked him wildly, with shouting, clamour and innumerable confusion, striving to kill him; and sometimes invisibly they brought upon him various passions with foul thoughts, and by every cunning strove to shake and destroy the wall founded by Christ. But in no way could they harm the strong wrestler, who had taken God as his helper and said with David: “These are in armour and on horses, but I call upon the name of the Lord, that they may bow down and fall; but I will make strength in God, and He will destroy my enemies, the demons who trouble me.” And one night many demons surrounded the blessed man as he slept, waking him and saying: “Rise and sing with us, and do not sleep.” And the venerable man, understanding the demons’ trick, did not rise, but answered them: “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for your father Satan and for you.” And they said: “You bring reproach upon us, answering us so stinging.”
The Demons at Night, the Devil on the Road, and «Your Humility»
And the saint said: “Which of the demons raises anyone to the praise of God, or teaches the virtues?” And they spoke much, but could not raise him, and not enduring to be despised by him, they all rushed upon him in fury and began to beat him. And the saint cried out: “O Christ, help me and deliver me from those who surround me, for many dogs have surrounded me and have opened their mouths against me.” And at once the demonic power vanished with a noise. And once, when the venerable man was gathering palm branches in the desert to make baskets and was carrying them to his cell, the devil met him on the road with a sickle and wished to strike him, but could not. And he said to him: “I suffer great need from you, O Macarius, for I cannot overcome you. For all that you do, I also do. You fast, and I eat nothing at all; you do not sleep, and I do not sleep at all. There is one thing by which you overcome me.” And abba Macarius asked him: “And what is that?” And the devil answered: “Your humility; and therefore I cannot stand against you.” And when the blessed Macarius had forty years from his birth, he received from God the gift of healing, and prophecy, and authority over unclean spirits. And he was counted worthy of the priestly rank, and became an abba, a father to those who lived in Scetis. And of his food and drink, and how he fasted, there is no need to say much, for even among the less zealous monks there one could not find daintiness or any better foods, because of the great lack of necessities in that place, and because of the zeal of the many divine fathers who dwelt there. And each of them imitated the other in the ascetic life, and strove even to surpass him.
The Priesthood, Antony’s Staff, and the Egyptian Wounded by Lust
And of the other labours of this heavenly man Macarius, who was unceasingly in the lifting up of his mind to God and joined most of the time with God in mind, and not with the things of this world, the Paterikon tells. And he visited his father and teacher, Antony the Great, and was much instructed by him, listening to his spiritual discourses. And he was counted worthy to be also at his blessed departure, with the other two disciples of Antony, and received, as a most rich inheritance, Antony’s staff, with which he supported his weak body, worn out by old age and ascetic labours, on the way. And with the staff he received also the double spirit, as Elisha after Elijah. And he worked wondrous miracles, of which it is time to tell. A certain sinful Egyptian was wounded with sinful lust for another man’s beautiful wife. And when he could not bring her to his fornication, because of her virtue, her purity and the love which she had for her husband, he went to the sorcerers, asking that either the woman might love him, or that by their charms they might bring it about that her husband would hate her and drive her from himself. And the sorcerer, having received many gifts from that Egyptian, used his customary tricks, striving by divers magic to seduce the chaste woman into fornication. And not being able to incline her unshaken mind to his evil will, he enchanted the eyes of those who looked at her, and made it so that to all she appeared not a woman with a human face, but an animal, of the horse kind, of the female sex.
The Woman in the Likeness of a Mare, and the Healing by Sanctified Water
And when her husband came into the house and saw her in the likeness of a mare, he was terrified and did not understand what had happened, for he saw that an animal was resting on his bed. And he spoke to her, but not being able to hear an answer from her, he only grew angry at her, looking at her, and hating that she was his wife, and he recognised a hostile malice, that she had been turned into the likeness of an animal by evil men. And therefore he was in great sorrow and wept. And he called the presbyters into his house and showed them his wife, but they also could not recognise what was the matter with her, or through what she had been turned into an animal, for their eyes also, as though enchanted, saw an animal. And it was already the third day since this had befallen her, and she had taken no food at all: she could eat neither hay as an animal, nor bread as a human being. Then it came into her husband’s mind to lead her into the desert to the venerable father Macarius. And he laid a bridle upon her, as upon an animal, and went, leading his wife in the likeness of an animal after him. And when he drew near to the cell of the venerable man, the brothers who stood outside began to rebuke him, why he wished to enter the monastery with that animal. But he said to them: “I have come here that this animal may receive mercy from the Lord by the prayers of the holy Macarius.” And when the monks asked what evil had befallen her, the man said: “This animal which you see is my wife. But how she was turned into an animal I do not know, and it is already the third day since she has tasted no food at all.” And the brothers, hearing this, went to tell the saint, to whom it had been revealed, and he prayed to God for her. And when the brothers reported the cause and showed the animal herself brought in, the saint said to them: “You yourselves are animals, because you have the eyes of an animal; but she, as she was created, so remains a woman, and is not changed into another nature, but the eyes see her thus, being seduced by charms.”
The She-ass, the Leprous Girl, and the Cave under the Cell
And having sanctified water and poured it upon her head, praying, he at once brought it about that she was in her former shape — and all, looking at her, saw a woman with a human face. And having commanded that she be given food, he made her wholly healthy. And the husband, and the wife, and all who saw that wondrous miracle gave thanks to God. And the saint commanded the woman to come often to the holy church and to partake of the all-pure Mysteries of Christ, “for because of this,” he said, “that temptation came upon you, that five weeks have already passed since you were a partaker of the Divine Mysteries.” And so commanding and instructing them both, he let them go in peace. And likewise he healed by prayer a certain girl who had been turned into a she-ass by a sorcerer, whom her parents brought to the saint. And another girl, who had rotted with scabs and wounds and boiled with worms, he made healthy by the anointing of holy oil. And many people troubled the venerable man, who came, some for prayer and blessing, and for profitable instruction from him, and others for healing. Therefore the saint dug out a deep cave under his cell, about half a stadion deep, and hid himself in it from those who came to him at any time and interrupted his meditation on God and his prayer.
The Heretic Hieracites, and the Raising of the Dead Man at the Tombs
And he had such grace with God that He allowed him even to raise the dead. And a certain heretic, Hieracites, saying that there is no resurrection of the dead, came from Egypt and troubled with his teaching the brothers who lived in the desert. And he came also to the venerable Macarius and disputed with him about the faith before the assembly of many brothers, and mocked at the simplicity of the venerable man’s words: for he himself was cunning in speech. And the saint saw the brothers doubting in the faith, and therefore said to that heretic: “What need is there for us to dispute with words — more to the destruction of those who hear than to edification? Let us go to the tombs of our brothers who died earlier in the Lord, and to whichever of us the Lord grants to raise the dead man from the tomb, let all see that his faith is righteous and witnessed by God.” And this word of the venerable man pleased all the brothers, and they went to the tombs. And Macarius told Hieracites to call some dead man from the tomb. But he answered: “You do that first, for you yourself pronounced such a judgement.” Then Macarius prostrated himself in prayer before the Lord and prayed a good while, and lifted up his eyes on high and said: “Do You, O Lord, Yourself show which of us two believes the better, and You will show this when You command the dead man here to rise.” And having said this, he called by name a certain brother who had recently been buried. And at once the dead man answered from the tomb. And the brothers, quickly digging open the tomb, found the brother risen, and having loosed the bindings on him, led him out alive.
The Widow Gleaning Ears of Corn, and the Hidden Gold
And Hieracites, seeing this, was greatly terrified and ran away. And all the brothers pursued him as an enemy, and drove him far away from the borders of that land. And this venerable Macarius raised a second dead man also, of which abba Sisoes tells: “I was,” he said, “in Scetis with the father Macarius, and the time of harvest came — then seven of us went to reap, being hired. And behold, a certain widow was gleaning ears of corn behind us and wept without ceasing. And Macarius, calling the master of that field, asked him: “What is the matter with this old woman, that she always weeps?” And he told Macarius that her husband, having taken a loan from someone, had died unexpectedly, without telling her where he had put what he had taken. And the master of that loan wishes to take her with her children for labour.” And Macarius said to him: “Tell her to come to us when we rest at noon.” And when that widow came, the elder said to her: “Why do you always weep so?” And she said to him: “My husband died suddenly, and he had taken gold from someone to keep, and did not tell me where he hid it.” And the elder said to her: “Come, show me your husband’s tomb.” And taking the brothers, he went with her. And coming to the tomb, the elder said to the widow: “Go home.” And having prayed, the elder called the dead man, saying to him: “Where did you put the other man’s treasure?” And he answered from the tomb: “I hid it at home, at the foot of my bed.” And the elder said to him: “Sleep again, until the day of resurrection.” And seeing this, the brothers fell at his feet in fear, and the elder said to them: “This was not through me, for I am nothing, but through the widow and her orphans God did this thing. And know this, that God wishes the soul to be without sin, and whatever it asks of Him, it will receive.”
The Third Raising: the Slain Man Who Testified for the Innocent
And going, he told the widow where the treasure lay. And she, taking it, gave it to the master, and freed herself and her children from labour. And all, hearing of this, glorified God. And this venerable Macarius raised a third dead man also, of which Rufinus the presbyter writes. And once a murder happened in the neighbourhood, and the guilt was laid upon a certain innocent man. And he ran to the saint’s cell, and they came after him and wished to take him as the murderer and give him over to lawful judgement. For he swore and took oath that he was not guilty of the blood of the slain man, but they firmly made him out to be guilty. And there was a long dispute and quarrel on both sides. And Macarius asked: “Where is the slain man buried?” And rising up, he went with them to the tomb and, bending his knees, prayed a good while. Then he said to those who stood by: “Today the Lord will show whether this man is truly guilty of the murder, as you say against him.” And he cried out with a loud voice, calling the slain man by name. And he answered from the tomb, and the saint said to him: “By the faith of Jesus Christ I adjure you, tell us whether this man killed you.” And he answered from the tomb with the clearest voice, declaring that the man whom they slandered without guilt had not killed him. And all marvelled at such a wonder and fell to the earth. Then, falling at the saint’s feet, they asked him to ask again the one who lay in the tomb, to say who had killed him. Then the venerable man said: “Of this I am not to ask, for it is enough for me to free the innocent from trouble; but it is not mine to give the guilty over to judgement.”
The Youth with the Demon of Gluttony, and Seven Days of Fasting
And once a mother brought to the venerable man a certain youth, weeping for him, because he was demon-possessed. And he was bound, and two men held him. And he had in himself a demon of gluttony, which ate three great loaves and, having drunk a not small vessel of water, cast up everything eaten into the air and turned it into smoke, for the food and drink were consumed in the fire within him. There is a legion of such demons, which is called fiery, for there is among demons also, as among men, a difference: they do not change their nature, but have a different will. And that youth, when his mother did not let him eat and drink so much, often ate his own dung and drank his own urine. And therefore his mother wept, and asked the venerable Macarius to have mercy on her son and heal him of such possession. And the venerable man began to offer earnest prayers to God for him, and after the first and second day it became easier for the youth — he asked to eat less. And the saint said to his mother: “How much do you wish your son to eat?” And she said: “Ten pounds of bread.” And the saint, reproving her, said: “Why do you ask so much, O woman?” For the blessed man fasted seven days and prayed for the boy, and cast the demon out of him, and brought it about that he was satisfied with three pounds of bread. And he commanded him also not to live in idleness, but to labour, working with his hands. And so, by the blessing of God, he gave the youth wholly healthy to his mother and let them go in peace.
The Tomb in Terinuth, and the Dry Skull of the Idol Priest
And once the venerable man went out of Scetis into Terinuth, and when evening came, he went into a Hellenic tomb to sleep. And there were old Hellenic bones there, and taking one, he put it at his head. And the demons saw his boldness, and were angry with him, and wished to frighten him. And they cried out with a woman’s voice, saying: “O you, go to the bath to wash.” And another demon answered out of the dead bones, lying under the elder’s head: “I have a traveller above me and cannot come.” But the elder was not frightened, and boldly struck that bone, saying: “Rise and go, if you can.” And hearing this, the demons cried out with a loud voice, saying: “You have overcome us in everything.” And they fled, put to shame. And walking in the desert, abba Macarius found a dry human skull lying on the ground, and when he turned it over with his staff, it seemed as though that skull gave out some voice. And the elder asked it: “Who are you?” And the skull answered: “I was chief of the idol priests who lived in this place. But you are abba Macarius, full of the Spirit of God; at whatever hour, having mercy on those in torments, you pray, they feel some comfort!” And the elder said: “And what is your comfort or torment, tell me?” And it answered with a groan, saying: “As far as heaven is distant from the earth, so great is the fire between us; it is impossible for any of us to see the face of another. But when you pray for us, we see one another in part, and this is a comfort to us.” And hearing this, the elder shed tears and said: “Woe to that day in which man transgressed the commandments of God.”
The Deeper Torments, the Devil with the Gourds, and the Temptations of the Brothers
And he asked that skull again: “Is there any other, greater torment?” And the skull answered: “There are others, much deeper below us.” And when the elder asked who were in those deepest torments, the bone answered: “We, who did not know God, feel His mercy, though little, at times; but those who, having known God, turned away from Him and did not keep His commandments, are tormented beneath us with the heaviest and inexpressible torments.” And the holy Macarius, taking that skull, buried it in the earth and went away. And after this the venerable elder lived in solitude, having his cell in the great desert. And there was a monastery below him in another desert, having many monks. And the elder sat by the road, and once saw the devil going in human form. And he had a shaggy garment, and at every strand a little gourd hung. And the elder said to him: “Where are you going, evil one?” And he answered: “I am going to trouble the brothers.” And the elder asked him: “And what are the gourds which you carry?” And the devil answered: “I carry temptations for the brothers.” And the elder said: “Are they temptations for all of them?” And he answered: “Yes, for if one thing does not please some one, I will offer another, and so in order, that each may receive one.” And having said this, he went. And the elder remained to watch the road, until he returned. And seeing him returning, he said to him: “Did you go well?” And he answered: “Badly, and how could it be well for me?” And the elder said to him: “Why?”
Theopempt: the Conversation in the Cell, the Fast until Evening, and the Devil’s Second Coming
And he answered: “Because all the monks were evil adversaries to me, and no one received me.” And the elder said: “What, do you have not one friend among them?” And the devil answered: “I have only one monk who listens to me, and when I come to him, he turns about before me like an eel.” And the elder asked: “What is the name of that monk?” And the devil said: “Theopempt.” And having said this, he went away. And abba Macarius rose up and went into the lower desert to that monastery, and the brothers heard, and came out with branches to meet him. And some of them were preparing their cells, thinking that the elder wished to settle in them. But he asked who was Theopempt. And seeing him, he went into his cell — and he received the father, rejoicing. And when they began to speak alone, the elder said to him: “How do you live, brother?” And he answered: “Well, by your prayers.” And the elder said: “Do not evil thoughts trouble you?” And the brother answered: “Yet today I am well.” For he was ashamed to tell his shameful thoughts. Then the elder said: “Behold, how many years I have spent, fasting and labouring, and all honour me, but even in these old years the unclean spirit of fornication troubles me.” And to this Theopempt said: “Truly, father, the spirit of fornication wholly possesses me.” And the elder sought out also other thoughts which were destroying his soul, until the brother told him everything. After this the venerable man asked the brother: “How do you fast?” And he answered: “Until the ninth hour.” And the saint answered: “Fast until evening, and go hungry, and learn by heart from the Gospel and from the other holy books, that you may always be occupied in meditation on God. And if an evil thought comes to you, do not receive it, and never let your mind be drawn downwards, but always listen upwards — and God will help you.” And so the father, having strengthened the brother, went into his own desert. And when he watched the road, he saw again that same devil going, and said to him: “Where are you going?” And the devil answered: “I am going to trouble the brothers.” And having said this, he passed by. And when he returned again, the saint said to him: “How are the brothers there?” And the devil answered: “All were evil to me, and the one whom I had earlier as a friend, who listened to me, even he — I do not know through whom — has turned away and does not listen to me at all, but was worse to me than all. And I have sworn not to go there again, except after a long time.” And having said this, he went, and the saint returned to his cell. And once there came to the venerable Macarius in Scetis two travelling youths, one bearded, and the other still beardless. And they said to him: “Where is the cell of the father Macarius?” And he said: “What do you want from him?” And they said: “We have heard of him and of the life of the fathers in Scetis, and have come to see it.” And the elder said to them: “I am he.” And they bowed down to him to the earth, saying: “We wish to live here.”
The Two Youths in the Hut on the Rock, the Fiery Candles from Their Mouths, and the Twelve Psalms
And the elder, seeing that they were still young and that they came from wealth, said to them: “You cannot sit here.” And the younger answered: “If you will not let us remain here, then we shall go elsewhere.” And the elder said to himself: “Why do I drive them away? They will be tempted again. For I shall receive them, and the desert labour itself will bring it about that they flee from here of their own will.” And he said to them: “Go and make yourselves a hut, if you can.” And he gave them an axe, and a basket full of bread, and salt. And he led them far away, and showed them a place on hard rock, and said: “Build yourselves a hut here, bringing wood from the meadow.” And they sat down. For the elder thought that they would flee from there. And those youths asked the father: “What do the monks do?” And the elder said: “Plaiting.” And taking branches, he began to plait the beginnings for them, saying: “Make baskets thus and give them to the church wardens, and they will bring you bread and salt.” And the venerable man went away from them. And they did everything he had commanded them with great patience. And they did not come to the father for three years. And Macarius remembered them, and said to himself: “What are they doing there, that they do not come to me to ask about their thoughts? Others come from far away, but these, who dwell nearer, do not come.” For those two brothers went to no one, but only to the church, to receive in silence the Communion of the all-pure Mysteries. And the elder prayed to God, fasting one week, that He would reveal to him their deeds, and after the week he went to them to see how they lived. And knocking at their door, he opened it. And seeing the man of God, they bowed down to him to the earth. And the elder, having made a prayer, sat down. And the elder made a sign to the younger to go out, and himself sat down to plait a basket, saying nothing. And at the ninth hour, having knocked, the younger came in, and having prepared a little food, set the table before them, and laid three crusts of bread, and stood up in silence. And the elder said: “Come, let us eat.” And they ate, giving thanks to God, and the younger brought water, and they drank. And when evening came, they said to the father: “Will you go from here, father?” And he said to them: “No, but I shall lie down here.” And they spread him a mat in one corner of the cell, and in the other they themselves lay down on a mat. And it was night. And the holy Macarius prayed to God that He would tell him their virtue. And the roof of the hut was opened, and there was light. And those two brothers did not see the light, and thought that the elder was sleeping. And the elder touched the younger, and both rose up and, having girded themselves, lifted up their hands to heaven and prayed in secret. And the venerable Macarius saw that demons, like flies, came upon the younger, and some wished to sit upon his mouth, and others upon his eyes. And an angel of God stood, having a fiery weapon, with which he fenced him about and drove the demons away from him. But to the elder the demons could not even draw near.
The Two Women Who Were Neither Virgins Nor Married
And when both lay down again towards morning, the venerable Macarius pretended as though he had awoken from sleep. And all rose up. And the elder brother said: “Father, do you wish us to sing the twelve psalms?” And the father said: “Yes.” And the younger sang first, and after each verse a fiery candle came out of his mouth and ascended to heaven. Then the elder began to sing, and fire came out of his mouth, like a rope, and reached to the heavens. And at the end of the psalms the elder wished to depart, and said to them: “Pray for me.” And they bowed down to him to the earth in silence. And the abba went away from them, understanding that the elder was perfect in the virtues, but with the younger the enemy still wrestled. And after a few days the elder fell asleep in the Lord, and after him, on the third day, the younger also departed. And when some of the fathers came to abba Macarius, he led them into the hut of those two brothers and said: “Come and look at the place on which the great servants of Christ laboured.” And once when the venerable man was praying to God, there came a voice to him, saying: “Macarius, you have not yet come to the measure of two women who live together in the nearby city.” And hearing this, the elder took his staff and went into the named city. And he found their house, and knocked at the door, and at once one of them came out and received him with great joy. And having called both, the elder said to them thus: “For your sake I have taken up such labour, coming from the far desert, that I may understand your deeds, which you will tell me without hiding anything.”
Macarius of Alexandria, Valens the Arian, and the Exile to the Island
And the women answered the elder: “Believe us, holy father, that even last night we were not free from the bed of our husbands; what deeds, then, do you seek from us?” But the elder pressed on, asking them to show him the order of their life. And they assured him, saying: “We have no kinship between ourselves; it happened that two brothers married us, and with them we have lived together in one house for fifteen years, and we have never said one evil or unclean word to one another, nor have we ever quarrelled, but we live in peace until today. And we resolved with one mind, leaving carnal marriage, to go into the choir of holy virgins to labour for God, but we could not persuade our husbands to let us go, though we asked them with very great tears and entreaties. And not obtaining what we desired, we made a covenant between God and ourselves, that we would never say a worldly word at all until our death.” And hearing this, the holy Macarius said: “Truly, they are neither virgins, nor married, nor nuns, nor laywomen, but God seeks the intent, receiving it as the deed itself, and according to the will of each gives the Holy Spirit, who works and directs the life of each who wishes to be saved.” And in the days of this venerable Macarius of Egypt there shone with virtues in those same deserts another venerable Macarius, of Alexandria, who was presbyter of the monastery called the Cells. And that place, which is called the Cells, was in the desert between Nitria and Scetis. And that blessed Macarius of Alexandria came often to this holy Macarius of Egypt, and they walked much together in the desert, having great love between themselves. And in those days the impious Valens the Arian came to the throne, and there was great persecution of the orthodox. For Lucius, the Arian bishop, came into Alexandria with a great host, and drove from the throne the blessed Peter, the bishop who was after the holy Athanasius the Great.
The Priest’s Possessed Daughter, the Conversion of the Island, and the Return
And he sent into the desert to banish all the holy fathers, and first of all the two Macarii — whom the soldiers, taking them by night and putting them into a ship, carried somewhere far away to an island on which Christ God was unknown, but idols were honoured as gods. And on that island the idol priest had a demon-possessed daughter, who, sensing the coming of the holy Macarii and of the venerable fathers who were with them, hastened to meet them, crying out: “Why have you come here? For this island is our ancient dwelling.” But they, having made a prayer, cast the demon out of her and made her healthy. And seeing this, her father, the idol priest, at once believed in Christ and was baptised. And all the people of that island received the holy faith and turned their idol temple into a church. And learning of this, the impious bishop Lucius, ashamed that he had banished such great fathers from their monasteries, sent secretly to bring the blessed Macarii and all the fathers with them back to their places. And the Scetic desert received the holy Macarius of Egypt again, and the place mentioned above, called the Cells, received him of Alexandria. And each of the fathers became the dweller of his own monastery. And because many came from everywhere to our venerable father Macarius the Great of Egypt, some for instruction and profit, and others for healing, and many sick people resorted to him, therefore it was necessary to build a shelter in which travelling sick people might find rest — which he also built. And every day, anointing one of the sick with holy oil, he made him healthy and let him go. And therefore he did not heal all at once: that others, remaining with him a few days, might receive healing not only for the body, but also for their soul, having listened to his God-inspired words.
Brother John, the Love of Silver, and the End of Gehazi
And he appointed one of the brothers to serve in the shelter — and he, urged on by a demon, was overcome by the passion of possessions, and hid away for himself something from the portion of the poor. And the venerable Macarius admonished him, saying: “Brother John, listen to me and accept my admonition, which will be for your profit. You are tempted by the spirit of the love of silver, for so I saw concerning you and know, that if you listen to my admonition and cease from that evil deed, you will finish in the fear of God, and will attain in His works, and will be glorified in this place, and no wound shall come near your body. But if you do not listen to me, the end of Gehazi will come upon you, whose passion you are sick with.” But John did not listen to the saint and did not cease from the evil habit, and it was after the departure of the saint, after fifteen or twenty years, when that brother became a slave of Judas the lover of silver and appropriated to himself the portion of the poor, that all his body became leprous, and he lost not only the wealth he had gathered, but his soul also, wretched man. And once the venerable man was going from Scetis to Mount Nitria, and already drawing near, he said to his disciple: “Go a little ahead of me.” And the disciple went ahead, and met an idol priest who was walking in haste and carrying a great log. And the brother called to him: “Hey, hey, demon, where are you going?” And turning round, the priest beat him severely, and left him barely alive, and taking his log, fled. And when he had run a little, abba Macarius met him and said to him: “Be saved, labourer, be saved.” And he, wondering, said to the father: “What good do you see in me, that you greet me with such words?” And the elder answered: “Because I see that you labour.” And the priest said: “I am moved, father, by your words, for I recognise that you are a man of God; but another monk, meeting me, reproached me, and I beat him almost to death.” And the priest fell down before the saint, taking hold of his feet and saying: “I will not leave you, father, until you make me a Christian and a monk.”
The Priest Beaten for an Evil Word, and the Two Naked Men in the Marsh
And he went with the holy Macarius, and they came to the brother lying there, and finding him barely alive, carried him to the church which is in Mount Nitria. And the Nitrian fathers saw that an idol priest was walking with the venerable Macarius, and marvelled, and having baptised him, made him a monk. And many Hellenes became Christians through him. And abba Macarius said: “An evil word makes even the good evil. A good word makes even the evil good.” And when the venerable man was in the monastery of abba Pambo, the elders said to him: “Say a word to the brothers, father, for their profit.” And he began to say: “Forgive me, I am not yet a monk, but I have seen monks. For we once sat in Scetis in my cell, and a thought compelled me to go into the inner desert, to see what is there — and I remained, wrestling with the thought five years, fearing lest there be some temptation from the demons. And when that thought did not leave me, I went into the far desert and found a watery marsh and an island in the middle. And the beasts of the desert came to drink the water, and I saw in the midst of them two naked men, and my body was frightened: I thought that they were spirits. And they, when they saw me frightened, said to me: “Do not fear, for we are men.” And I asked them: “From where have you come into this desert?” And they said to me: “We are from a coenobium, and resolved to come here; and it is already thirty years since we left the monastery, and one of us is an Egyptian, and the other a Libyan.” And they asked me also, saying: “How does the world stand today: do the rivers still overflow in their season? Is the earth still fruitful with its wonted fruits?” And I said to them: “Yes.” And again I asked them: “How can I be a monk?” And they said to me: “If a man does not renounce everything that is in the world, he cannot be a monk.” And I said to them: “I am weak and cannot be such as you.” And they said to me: “If you cannot be as we, sit in your cell and weep over your sins.” And again I said to them: “When winter comes, do you not freeze? And when there is the heat of the sun, are your bodies not scorched?” And they said: “God has so ordered us, that we suffer neither from the frost in winter, nor from the heat in summer.” Therefore I have said to you, brothers, that I am not yet a monk, but I have seen monks.” And certain fathers asked abba Macarius how he had so dried himself up: not only when he fasted, but even when he ate, his body was always dry. And the elder answered them: “Flame transforms the wood and branches that burn; they are always consumed by fire. So when a man plunges his mind into the fear of God, and always recalls the fearful judgement and the kinship of the fire of Gehenna, then that fear itself consumes his body, for it dries even the bones.”
How to Pray, to Flee from Men, and to Revile the Tombs
And again the brothers asked him: “Father, how ought we to pray?” And the elder said to them: “There is no need to speak much, but to lift up the hands and say: “Lord, as You will and as You know, have mercy on me.” And if sinful struggle comes upon you, one ought to say: “Lord, have mercy.” And He knows what is for our profit, and will do mercy with us.” And abba Isaiah asked him, saying: “Say me a word for profit, father.” And the elder said to him: “Flee from men.” And abba Isaiah said to him: “And what is it to flee from men?” And the elder said to him: “Sit in your cell and weep over your sins.” And to his disciple Paphnutius he said: “Insult no one and revile no one. Keeping this, you will be saved.” And again the elder said: “Do not rest in the cell of a brother who has an evil reputation.” And a certain brother came to him and said to him: “Abba, say me a word by which I shall be saved.” And the elder said to him: “Go to the tombs and revile the dead.” And the brother went, and reviled them, and beat the tombs with stones, and came to tell the elder. And he said to him: “Did they say nothing to you?” “No,” he said. Then the elder: “Go again and praise them.” And he went and began to flatter the dead with praises, saying: “Holy and righteous apostles.” And he returned to the elder and told how he had praised them. And the elder said: “Did they answer you nothing?” “No,” he said.
«Be as the Dead», the Thief in the Cell, and the «Earthly God»
And the elder said to him: “You see that neither when you reviled them did they answer anything against you, nor when you flattered them with praises did they speak anything to you. So you also, if you wish to be saved, be as the dead: be angry neither with the dishonourable, nor exalted through honour, as the dead are not — and you will be saved.” And the brothers told of this blessed father, that when anyone of the brothers came to him as to a holy and great man, he said nothing to them. But when some brother, as though counting him for nothing, said to him: “Abba, you were once a great fornicator; you stole nitre and sold it. Did not your elders beat you?” — then when someone spoke to him thus, he conversed with him gladly, answering all his questions. And once the elders of Mount Nitria sent into Scetis to abba Macarius, saying: “That the whole brotherhood may not labour for your sake, father, in going to you, come yourself to us before you depart to the Lord.” And when the venerable Macarius came into Nitria, all gathered to him, and the elders asked him to say a word to the brothers. And he, weeping, said to them: “Let us weep, brothers, and let our eyes bring forth the tears that cleanse us, before we go there where tears will scorch the bodies in torments.” And all wept, and falling on their faces, said: “Pray for us, father.” And this father Macarius, when he was in Egypt, once caught a thief in his cell, when he was stealing the things that were there. And the thief’s beast was tied outside, on which he laid what he had plundered. And the venerable man made himself out to be a traveller, not showing that he was the master of the house, and helped the thief to take and to lay on the beast. And he let him go in peace, saying to himself: “We brought nothing into this world; it is evident that we shall not be able to carry anything out. The Lord gave, and as He wills, so shall it be. Blessed be God in all things.”
The Disciple, the Harlot, and the Snatching Away by an Unseen Hand
Of this venerable abba Macarius the fathers said that he had become as an earthly god, for as God covers the whole world, so abba Macarius covers human infirmities, though he sees them. And he was, seeing, as though not seeing, and hearing, as though not hearing. And once one of the disciples of the venerable Macarius went into the city to sell his handiwork — baskets and mats. And a harlot met him in the city, who, seeing the beauty of the youth, was struck by him and called him to herself, as though wishing to buy the baskets which he was selling. And he, not understanding her crafty intent, went into her house. And the woman, taking one basket, asked for how much he wished to sell it. Then, spreading amorous discourse to him, as once the Egyptian woman tried to seduce the chaste Joseph into sin. And the brother, seeing that he was in trouble, and was near to a sinful fall, lifted his mind to Heaven, saying to himself: “You who delivered Your prophet out of the whale’s belly, O Christ the King, deliver me also from the gates of destruction and from this spiritual death, by the prayers of Your servant, my father Macarius.” And at once he was snatched away by an unseen hand, as Habakkuk once was, and was set by an angel in his own cell. And he found the holy Macarius praying earnestly to God for him, that the disciple might be delivered from the present trouble: for he was not ignorant of what had happened, seeing things far off as near with the eyes of the mind. And seeing his disciple, he said: “Let us give thanks, O child, to the God who loves mankind, for He has delivered you out of the serpent’s mouth and from the gates of hell, snatching you by His divine power from the fall into sin and carrying you into your cell, as once He carried His apostle Philip to Azotus.” So powerful was the prayer of this venerable man with God. And sometimes he himself was snatched up into the air, and found himself in a place that lay at a great distance.
The Departure: Antony and Pachomius, the Ninth Day, and the Cherub
For carrying baskets from Scetis, he grew weary, and sat down, and prayed, saying: “O God, You know that I cannot.” And at once he found himself at the river to which he had to go. But it is already time to speak of the blessed departure of this blessed Macarius, of which Serapion, the author of his life, tells thus. Because the time of death had come — for it behoved him also, who was a man, to serve what is appointed, for he was bowed down with old age, having lived ninety-seven years. His departure was not unknown, for two most honourable men stood before him: “Rejoice, O Macarius,” they said. And one of them was the holy Antony, the instructor of the desert, and the other the holy Pachomius, the teacher of the monastic life. And they said to him: “Christ has sent us to announce to you your joyful departure. For on the ninth day from today you will pass into eternal life, and we also shall come to you on that day, and will take you with us in joy, to stand before the throne of the Master together with us and to enjoy the immortal food.” Then, having said “Peace to you,” they became invisible to his eyes. And the divine Macarius called his disciples: “Behold,” he said, “the time of my departure has come, O children, and I commit you to His goodness. Keep therefore the fathers’ statutes and the ascetic traditions.” Then to some whom he saw to be better in the virtues, he entrusted the care of those who had only lately come into monasticism, who were still infants in spiritual age. And having laid his hands on them, and instructed them sufficiently, and prayed for them, he made ready for his departure.
The Gates of Heaven, the Testimony of Serapion, and Glory to God
And when the ninth day came, a cherub with many divine angels stood before the father, saying: “Rise, follower of the Lord, and walk with us into eternal life; lift up your eyes around, and you will see how many bodiless powers and choirs of saints have come for you. The Almighty has sent us to lead you to Himself.” And seeing the assembly of the apostles, the choir of the prophets, the host of the martyrs, the company of the hierarchs, the regiment of the fasters, the multitude of the venerable and the righteous — give over to me your soul, which God has commanded me to guard while it lived in the body. Released from the harness of the flesh, I shall take it honourably as a great treasure, and having passed by the powers that are forever opposed, I shall set it before the divine throne of the Master, to rejoice with all who have been holy from of old.” And when that fearful cherub was saying this, the blessed Macarius kissed all who were with him and prayed for them, and then, lifting up his eyes and stretching out his hands on high, spoke this last word: “Into Your hands, O Lord, I commit my spirit.” And so he let go his blessed soul, leaving great weeping to his disciples. And Serapion adds, in telling it, also what he heard from the venerable Paphnutius, who was one of Macarius’ disciples: that when that holy soul was lifted up by the cherubim and was ascending to the heavens, certain of the fathers, looking with the eyes of the mind, saw the demons of the air, who stood far off and cried out: “O what glory you have been counted worthy of, Macarius!” And the saint answered: “No, but I still fear, for I do not know myself what good I have done.” Then those enemies who were high in the air cried out: “Truly Macarius will escape us.” But he said: “No, but I must still flee.” And when he was already inside the Gates of heaven, the demons, weeping, cried out: “He has escaped us, he has escaped.” And he answered with the strongest voice: “Yes, I have escaped your snares, fenced about by the power of my Christ.” Such were the life, the departure and the passing into eternal life of our venerable father Macarius. One may find also yet more words and accounts of this venerable father in the Paterika and elsewhere. Let him who wishes search there. But we, having made an end of the tale, glorify the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the One God, glorified in His saints forever. Amen. This holy Macarius of Egypt wrote a Book of Spiritual Homilies for those who wish to be saved, very profitable, which contains fifty homilies.