St. Macarius the Great
On the 25th day of the Coptic month of Baramhat we celebrate the life of St Macarius the Great.
Macarius was born in the Egyptian city of Shabsheer-Menuf to good and righteous parents. His father's name was Abraham and his mother's name was Sarah and, like the Biblical references, they too had no son. In a vision at night Abraham saw the angel of the Lord and told him that God was about to give him a son, that his name will be known all over the earth, and he will have a multitude of spiritual sons. Shortly after, Macarius (which means "Blessed”) was born.
He was obedient to his parents, and the grace of God was upon him from a 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, avoiding his new wife. Then he asked his father if he might go to the wilderness to relax to help him recover from his illness faster. He went to the wilderness and prayed to the Lord Christ to direct him to do what is pleasing to the Lord. While he was in the wilderness he saw a vision. A Cherubim took his hands, ascended up to the top of a mountain, and showed him all the desert in all directions. 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 God had received his virgin wife.
Shortly after, his parents also departed. Macarius gave all that he had inherited to the poor and needy. When the people of Shabsheer saw his chastity and purity, they took him to the bishop of Ashmoun who ordained him a priest for them. They built a place for him outside the city. They went to him to confess and to partake from the Holy Mysteries. They also appointed a servant to take care of his needs and to sell for him the work of his hands.
When Satan saw Macarius grow in virtues, he brought on him a severe temptation. He inspired a girl that had defiled herself with a man to claim that Macarius was the defiler. Her family went to him, insulted and beat him severely, inflicting much pain. Macarius endured silently, saying to himself, "O Macarius now you have a wife and a child, and it is meet for you to work day and night for your own food and for that of your child and your wife."
He worked continually at weaving mats and baskets, giving them to his servant to sell, then giving the money to the woman. When the day of her delivery drew near her labor was exceedingly difficult. She suffered for four days and did not deliver until she confessed her false accusation and named the man that defiled her.
Her family wanted to beg for forgiveness, but Macarius, having heard of her confession, fled from them for fear of vanity.
At that time he was 30 years old, and the angel of the Lord appeared to him and walked with him for two days until they came to Wadi El-Natroun and Macarius asked the angel: "Appoint for me O master a place to live in." The angel replied: "I have not marked out a place for you to live, lest you leave it in the future and transgress the commandment of God. Behold, all the wilderness is yours, so wheresoever you wish, live there."
Macarius dwelt in the Inner Desert, in the place of the monastery of Sts. Maximus and Domadius which is known now by the monastery of El-Baramous. He went to visit St. Antonios, who said about Macarius, when he saw him, "This is an Israelite in whom there is no guile."
St. Antonios put on him the Holy Eskeem, then Macarius returned to his place. When the number of monks increased around him he built a church for them. His fame was known all over the country and many kings and Emperors heard about the miracles that God performed through his hands. He healed the daughter of the king of Antioch that was possessed by an unclean spirit. The angel of the Lord appeared to him and took him to a place and told him to make this place his abode, for many people will come to him in that place....