Macaire of Alexandria

Monk and father of the desert, 4th century century

It is known through the Apophtegmes of the Fathers of the desert, sometimes where it is also called " the citadin" to differentiate it from Macaire de Scété.

Born towards 293, he was confectioner in Alexandria. With old 40 years, it accepted the baptism and having chosen to become monk with the desert, it went near Antoine. They is hands of Antoine whom it accepted the monastic dress.

After a few years, it went in Scété, like Nitrie. Like other monks of the first generation, Macaire was by no means confined with only one place. It had four cells, in Nitrie, in Kellia, with Scété and another " in the South-Ouest" (see the chart). It was one of the first monk of Nitrie to being ordered priest.

Its zeal of neophyte made it avid to equalize, to even exceed all the other monks in asceticism. Having learned that the monks of Tabennesis did not eat anything of cooked during the Lent, it spent seven years to eat only believed vegetables and soaked lenses.

Pallade, in its Lausiaque History reports that it was done, well later, to admit incognito with the monastery of Tabennesis, directed by Pacôme. The rigor of its asceticism made it recognize, and Pacôme required of him to leave " not to discourage the others moines".

He lived an about sixty years to the desert and died in 393, centenary.

Celebrated on January 2nd in the Catholic church, on January 19th in the orthodoxe Church and on May 1st in the Church copte

Though they sometimes are confused, Pallade differentiates it definitely not only from Macaire de Scété, but also from another Macaire, known as " the jeune". It is however to note that in many works when it is question of " Macaire the jeune" , it is " citadin" that it is question (and not of that about which Pallade like " speaks; the jeune")

Sources

Pallade: " History Lausiaque "

" And the desert became a city " D.J. Chitty (Eastern Spirituality n° 31, Bellefontaine)

Random links: