Life of Macarius the Great

The life of the great luminary and the spirit-bearer who is perfect in all virtues, Abba Macarius the father and chief of the monks of the holy mountain of Scetis, which was recorded by Abba Serapion, the most holy bishop of the city of Emmaüs, the disciple of Abba Antony the spirit-bearer. In the peace of God, amen. Now those which Moses, the servant of God, recorded according to the law, which he received from God concerning our beginning... because the law which became a path for us to Christ according to the word of the economy, as the holy apostle said, and also those which were written after the law, whether the judges or the prophets or the kings or the other books, simply the Old and New Testaments, they are a beginning, especially because the word looks to this same bishop of the taking of the flesh of our Savior. For this reason, the scripture is called the law, according to the manner written in the Gospels, that an iota or a stroke of its letters from the law until all these things happen, because the iota and the stroke give a sign of the type of the cross, which the fulfillment of these prophecies accomplished through him who was sent down upon us and endured death in the flesh until he saved us and the whole world from the snare of the devil.

Those who became servants of the word according to the teaching of our Lord spoke to the holy apostles, those whose sound went forth over the whole earth, and they became a salvation for the whole world. And also the other fathers who came after them, who followed these same footsteps of the one and only piety, they struggled with all their might against

The crowns of the contests which are in this life in the form of a race, they look out from the beginning toward the hope which is indestructible, according to the manner in which the Lord taught us through his holy teachings in the Gospels, that the path which leads into life is narrow, and few are those who will find it. These then, he who is holy, the Spirit-bearing Abba Macarius, meditated upon and practiced them, and he grew in a good growth and followed after them, having become a fellow traveler with them in word and deed. And also according to the manner in which the word will inform us, if we walk from the beginning a little, according to our own word, we will become a model of the ascetics of piety, if we reveal through the grace of the Lord the practices of this holy one, the perfect one. The great one then, that Abba Macarius, according to what we have heard from our fathers who are before us, was from pious parents living in the worship of God and practicing according to the holy evangelical law, and his father was a priest, constant in the place of the service of God with great zeal. His mother was a faithful woman, a God-fearing one, walking in humility and reverencing God in

...endurance. These are the true ones of the Spirit, and the Lord is with them. They are like vessels in the needs of life, but they are turned rather toward the salvation of their souls. A child was born to them first, and after a little while, the Lord found her prayer, and she departed from this life. The God-loving presbyter and his blessed wife, as they loved the purity of the Spirit, they practiced hesychia together, praying for themselves through their daughter. After the death of the young girl, for a time they were turned toward prayer, moreover, with fasting, with charity, and with service to the sick. They lived in this entire way in piety. They became beloved by all. The evil devil, the beautiful one, did not rejoice, seeing them living in this manner of life, but he was angry with them in this way. Yet he approached them according to his malice, and in this way he raised up temptations against them, one after another, through scandalous men who were his instruments, Satan himself, so that they might be scattered and driven away from all these things.

...they were like the Gentiles there in the things of God. I speak of Job the righteous, because in that time there was no disturbance in their land. But blessed is the wife of the blessed presbyter who saw what had happened to her, and she was admonished by the weariness of heart. She gave counsel to her husband that in a dream they might save their soul and come out from their land and from their family, and thus it happened. But he, the presbyter, as one troubled in his mind and full of care for all this, kept saying, "What is this that has happened to me? I have turned in the night." Behold, he saw in a vision a holy elder shining with all light, but he was clothed in a garment of the patriarch, and he appeared to him and said to him, "Do not be afraid. I am Abraham, the father of Isaac, who begot Jacob. Listen to me, then, and do not listen to the voice of your wife, and come out from this land, for thus God has willed. Come, then, dwell in the place of the stranger, I.

...but do not abandon me,” said the Lord. “Rather, I will bless you,” he said. “For I also came out from my region of Charran and I dwelt in the land of Canaan, as the Lord commanded me. And I will give you a son,” said the Lord. “From this woman who is with you now, and his name shall be established forever, along with the children whom he will beget spiritually, that they may serve me in the place which I will reveal to him.” Now when the old priest heard these things, he marveled greatly, but rather he rejoiced at the consolation of heart. When morning came, he called his wife and told her all that he had seen, according to the manner in which they had spoken with him. After they had given thanks for the decree of God, then they prepared the provisions of those who were with them, and they came out from the land in which they had dwelt, and they went to the riverbank, and they remained there according to the manner in which they had been commanded in the revelation. They brought with them a small necessity in secret for the journey, so that they might receive what was needed. When they were at the riverbank, they also walked in the commandments of the Lord according to their custom. Now the clergy of that village saw the good ways of the old priest, and they gave him honor so that he might marvel and serve with them instead of being idle. But he did not accept according to the law of the canons.

...but do not abandon me,” said the Lord. “Rather, I will bless you,” he said. “For I also came out from my region of Charran and I dwelt in the land of Canaan, as the Lord commanded me. And I will give you a son,” said the Lord. And after a short time in that place, he then prepared and began to work the land and to live from it, for that was his desire. And when a time of illness again came upon him, he began to suffer and he asked to be taken to the church of his village there, according to a vow, so that he might receive healing. While he was still in distress from the fever of the sickness, he saw—and behold, an angel of the Lord stood in the place of the threshing-floor and called to him once, twice, up to three times, saying, “Arise, come to this place.” But he said to him, “I am afraid, my father, for I am not able because of the illness that is upon me.” And the angel took hold of him and took him with him, saying, “It is the Lord who commanded that you be saved. Arise and stand.” And immediately he arose and stood.

The angel said to him, “Go to your house and know your wife, and she will conceive and bear you a son, and joy will come to you and to his mother. And this one will be a righteous man in the faith, so that his name will be spread over the whole earth, almost as if he will bring a people into God to worship him in the manner of the angels who have renounced almost all bodily things in their discipline and their worship.” When he had gone up from the vision, his wife was standing beside him in the church, worshipping him. He told her all these things. When morning came, they went to their house, and it was not long before the woman conceived according to the word of the angel. She gave birth to the child, and she named him Macarius, who was noble and filled entirely with grace. When the child grew up, he continually gave himself to asceticism through the teaching of his parents, seeing them as servants of God in every way. Moreover, he took the path for himself through the grace of God that was with him, because...

He continued walking in the commandments of God according to his custom. Then the clergy of that village saw the good forms of that old priest, and they marveled, and they wished to serve with him in the place of the sanctuary. But he did not accept according to the law of the canons. After a short time there, he set out, then he began to work the land and to live from it, because he was poor. When a time had passed again, he began to be ill, and he asked to be taken to the church of his own district there, according to a faith, so that he might receive the healing. He was still suffering from the disease of the pleurisy. He saw, and behold, an angel of God stood in the place of the sanctuary and called to him once, twice, and a third time, saying, “Rise, come to this place.” But he said to him, “I am afraid, my lord, for truly I am not able because of the disease that is upon me.” When the angel had taken hold of him, he took him with him, saying, “It is the Lord who commanded that you be healed. Rise and stand up.” And immediately he rose and stood up, and

The angel said to him, "Go to your house, and you will know your wife, and she will conceive, and she will bear you a son, and joy will come to you and to his mother. And this will happen, and he will be a righteous man in the faith, so that his name will be praised throughout the whole earth, almost as if he will bring a people into God to serve him in the manner of the angels who have almost become bodiless in their conduct and their service." When he looked up from the vision, his wife was standing before him in the church serving him, and he told her all these things. After the first time had passed, they went to their house, and it was not long before the woman conceived according to the word of the angel, and she gave birth to the child, and she named him Macarius, for he was noble and full of grace. When the child grew up, he was always going to the sanctuary through the teaching of his parents, seeing them serving God in that entire manner, and moreover they would guide him through the grace of God that was with him, because

He was a son of the promise, according to those who had gone before. Then little by little he grew strong, and in this way he began to work with his father in the care of this life, for the Lord God blessed them and delivered them from the beasts and the generations, so that all were amazed at the great works in their house. For they saw the condition of the child, the people of the village and the grace of God that shone forth from his face. Then the clergy of the village took charge of him and brought him to the bishop, and they urged him, saying, "Let him be made a reader for us." And so it happened. But when his father and mother learned of it, they were grieved. Again they said, "Let what is pleasing to the Lord happen." Then when he came of age, his parents took care of him, and his father and mother urged him to be joined to a wife. He, however, would not consent, saying, "Do not trouble yourselves to seek such a thing for me, for I do not agree to this counsel at all." His parents pressed him as a child, and again they urged him to change his mind, but they were confounded.

His parents were among those who had spoken about him. The young Macarius, however, all his concern was in God, practicing meditation continually in the scriptures and the books in the church and in his home, and also he remained in a state of fear of those who would read them, that they would compel him through the clergy, as if the church had need of him for its service, and his parents gave consent to this matter. Then, against his will, they married him to a woman according to the customs of the people, but his heart and his concern were in God in the manner I have said. He did not take the woman at all, and he did not approach her entirely, but when they shut him in with her, he would go out to the latrine as if he were ill, and in this way he would go out continually, purified and protected by the providence of God. When the days of the marriage were completed, then they made him a deacon, and he asked his father that he might release him and that he himself might go with his laborers and his camels to the mountain of natron and the multitude that was there to gather natron, and this indeed he did, so that he might be free from the care of the woman, lest he meet her from that time on, and thus it happened.

At that time, many people from all the villages used to gather together, and in this way they would be of one heart and go into the mountain to gather salt from the camels, giving it to each other because of the fear of the barbarians who were inside the mountain, who came out little by little to the north side of the river and would take captive those whom they could overpower, and they would sell them and send them to another country. Because of this, therefore, since Abba Macarius himself was with this synodia, this group, in this manner, they made a plan for themselves, calling him by the name of his village, "Macarius the Camel-Driver." He neglected, then, to take a turn with the multitudes, for they were going again to gather salt. They arrived at the top of the rock of Petra, above the valley, and they turned back there from the top of the mountain, for they would take a portion of the salt which they needed from it. Then, from the labor, the blessed young man himself also grew weary and turned back. And there, in that evening, he found himself as in a dream, with a man standing above him in a garment that was shining white, and it was radiant and shining, and he spoke to him, saying, "Arise and look upon the circle of this Petra and this valley which is in the middle. See what you see.

And when he had looked, he said to me, "I see nothing except the beginning of the sun, which is shining to the south, and the other mountain that surrounds it, I see it." And he said to me, "These are the ones of whom God says, 'This land I will give to you, and you shall dwell in it, and you shall go forth, and your cattle shall multiply, and your flock shall increase, and you shall beget spiritual children, and rulers shall come forth from your loins, and they shall be placed as governors over peoples, and your foundation shall be established.'

upon the rock and the people whom you will bring forth from her teachings, I will bless her branches so that they may give glory to God until the ends of the whole earth, down upon your good remembrance. Arise, then, from the sleep and go on your way in peace, and prepare yourself well for those whom you have heard and those who have been revealed to you. And after these things, behold, I will reveal myself to you again, and when you become perfect, I will reveal myself to you and speak with you face to face. The Lord God said, and see, do not tell anyone about the vision you have seen until a certain time. When the blessed old man Macarius arose from the sleep, and when the morning came, he became like those who are astonished, thinking about the things that had been spoken to him and the vision he had seen, for it was not a small matter of this kind. His companions were asking him, "What is this astonishment that has come upon you? It is nothing at all." After three days, however, he returned to his house from the mountain of Pispir, and he found the woman who had been afflicted by a severe fever, and she was about to die. He found her inquiry from God, and

When the old man saw what had happened, he spoke with him, blessing him, saying, "Macarius, make yourself a disciple for the sake of the salvation of your soul, for truly, even you yourself will find your reward." He then entered into the church and began to love everyone through his great humility, and all loved him, from the small to the great, as if he were their own son. And all spoke about him, seeing his progress and the grace of God that was with him, and they said, "What joy will come to this youth, or what teaching has he found? For he does not walk with the young men of his age, but he is a companion of the old men, the poor monks, those who have the heart of the monastic life." And all who knew him said, "Truly, this young man is an angelic figure." His father and mother rejoiced greatly before them, and seeing that he loved God in this way, they were filled with joy, especially since they often found him alone on the roads, praying.

And also he did this with those who were poor and he sought the healing of those who were sick. No longer did they say, "Bring him before me," nor did they remember the woman, but they were comforted by his word as by God, seeing the grace that was upon him. He would remain steadfast from his youth and would warm his soul like a monk, especially since they remembered the desert, that it was a promise, and they gave him rest in every work. He himself, however, the young man, seeing the divine service of his fathers, would serve them in every work and would obey them like a servant before his masters. When the child had grown and had reached the full age, then his father also became old, having left a light like Isaac the patriarch. And when he had become weak with the increase of time, his eyes were dimmed, and the holy Macarius continued to attend to him, serving him, ministering to him at all times with faith, that he might bless him. And thus it happened. When his days were completed in a good old age, he stretched himself out and rested, and they buried him according to custom. When his father had fallen asleep, immediately it came upon his heart that he might leave behind this life and its cares and take upon himself a single care and devote himself to prayer alone to God in solitude. And thus he began to strive earnestly, little by little.

When his mother learned of it, she spoke with him directly, saying to him, "My son, what is this that you are doing? Behold, you are a poor man. Look, do not destroy what you have, and do not act foolishly. And in this manner, do not act as a laborer for other people." But he said to her, as he did not wish to grieve her heart, "He who gave it to me, I will take it." His counsel, however, he kept in his heart. After six months and a few days, God found the old woman of blessed memory, and when she had rested, they placed her body beside that of the blessed priest. The blessed one, now that he was alone, was surrounded by many thoughts, and his mind was not at all emboldened by anyone.

After some days had passed, she came down upon his heart, wearying him, for she was going out into the desert with the wild beasts and doing this with them according to her custom, so that they might remember her fathers. Now there was an anchorite in the vicinity of his village, whose manner was to fear the face of God greatly and to practice hesychia in a small monastery near him. When he had made an offering in the church on that day, because there was no presbyter in his monastery to receive a blessing from him, then the holy Macarius made a request, that he too might make an offering and receive from the agape, and thus he gave consent. When they had finished eating, the holy one said to him, "I beg you, holy father, that I may come to you and confess my thought to you, for the matter is necessary." The old man, knowing the soul of Macarius, gave consent. When the first had happened, he went to him and thus informed him of his thought fully, saying, "I also wish to practice anachoresis and to strive for the salvation of the soul." The old man, seeing the grace

of God who is with the young man, he marveled at his condition and his taking of food. Then he waited under him, under that same palm tree, the old man, so that he might know whether the Lord would inform him about something concerning him, for he was indeed a seer. And when the sun set, they ate the small loaf of bread and slept. And God opened the eyes of the old man in the taking of his vigil, and behold, a chorus of monks appeared to him, surrounding Abba Macarius as he slept. And the old man saw them, all of them white and all of them adorned in forms of life, like eagles upon their garments. And he heard a voice saying, "Arise, Macarius, prepare yourself for the service, for the hour has come. Arise and walk, for I am the one who sent for you." When the holy old man heard them, he kept silent. And when dawn came, the blessed Macarius was about to walk. The old man said to him, "Did you see anything in this palm tree?" He said to him, "Not at all, but I slept in peace and coolness of my soul." Then the old man said to him, "The one who truly

upon your heart, make it so that truly the Lord is the one who troubles you. The old man said nothing to him about the things he had seen, so that he might not become proud, but he clung to him closely, so that he might go and dwell in the desert, and take up his abode near another village in the monasteries, for truly, no one among the seventy-two prophets dwelt in the deserts outside the great Anthony, who went into the desert places many times and then came out again. But the blessed Macarius, when he came to the village, began to seek out the one who had given all the poor and the needy.

And in this way he went out from the village and went to a monastery outside another village, and he remained there for a time. The people of that village saw his beautiful appearance and his cheerful countenance, because there was no presbyter of their own to bless them in the village. Then they spoke with the bishop of Shmin about him, and when they had brought him, without his knowledge, they made him a presbyter against his will. And this happened according to a dispensation, so that he might be a help to them and to other monks with him, when later he would come to be in the deserts. When he had been in that monastery for some days, and many people who came to him found healing, then the devil became envious, turning against his former humility. But the blessed Macarius did not allow himself to be disturbed by him through thoughts, so that he might remain in that place, and also that he might not cease from his labor, and that he might make the desert a new world for God, the place where he would gather a spiritual army of soldiers, armed with spiritual weapons, against

his enemies, the apostates, began to speak about the Spirit that is hidden, and the devil himself fled from him through the virtues that were received, having gained victory over him in the name of Jesus Christ, our God. But God, the provident and wise one, arranged according to an economy that a temptation should arise against Apa Macarius, so that the cause would be a reminder to those who speak with him, and he would go out into the desert, the place that had been shown to him, and all who desire the eternal life would gather to him. That temptation, however, you all know it in the manner in which it bore witness to us, the one who is a gate against many times. Nevertheless, I will tell it to you, O our brethren. There was a virgin in that village who had grown up in the age before she took a husband, and there was a young man in her neighborhood who was related to her. And the parents of the girl were planning so that they would join the young man to their son in a lawful marriage according to the laws of nature. But when they had grown up, the time for marriage did not occur for them to be joined together because of the poverty of the parents of the young man. There was, however, a freedom, and the young man and the girl, because of the kinship and the neighborhood, as we first said, they used to meet each other many times in the houses and in the streets. When a day of festival came and they had poured wine into the cup, then they fell into the sin, and they lost their virginity.

And in this way, little by little, the conspiracy began to grow. But they were afraid of the hearts of the fathers of the monastery, lest they kill them because of the scandal that was about to happen. Then they made a plan full of lawlessness, having added even greater sins to their fornication. And each one of them said to his companion, "What is it that we shall do? For if our fathers come to know of this matter, they will destroy us. But let us say that the presbyter anchorite is the one who did this, or that he is a stranger, and they will not give heed to him." And it happened in this way. But when the fathers of the monastery came to know that this had happened to her, they questioned her.

What is it that happened to me, or who is it that did this to me? Tell me." She, however, as she had been instructed by the old man, said, "I will go to the anchorite one day. He is the one who did this to me, for he made me conceive." When her parents heard this, they were filled with anger because of the shame that had befallen them because of their daughter. They went out to the monastery with some other monks, and they brought out Abba Macarius, having given him many severe blows to the point of death. He, the holy one, however, not knowing what had happened, asked them, "What is it that you are doing to me in this manner without mercy?" Finally, they tied some ropes to his neck, with potsherds attached, and they dragged him through the middle of the village, walking after him with many other children also striking him. They dragged him from one place to another in this manner, like those who are mad, and they all cried out with one voice, saying, "This is him! This is him! He seduced the girl!" The God-loving man, however, who was serving Abba Macarius in faith, so that he might receive his blessing, walked after him.

He had not seen him before that time. When they had kindled a great fire among the thorns and the thistles, behold, the pistos came out from the desert, and when they saw him, he was hastening toward death. They asked him, "What is it that has happened to him?" And they learned, and they said, "Truly, this is not the word that you are saying now. For we first knew this man, that he is a pistos in truth." And when they had stood over him, they released him from the bonds, and they burned the remaining thorns and the other thistles that were upon his body. And the father of the young woman said to them, "It is a powerless thing until he gives his judgment, so that when the young woman gives birth, he may give the forgiveness of her sin and the baptism of her son." And he said, "O violence and this judgment that I have desired, I do not know him." Then the man who was serving him said, "Do me the kindness, give me his judgment." And he gave him his judgment, and in this way they released him, and he went to his monastery, being half dead. When he had entered his cell, he spoke with himself, saying,

Macarius, behold, you have found a wife for yourself. Now the matter needs you to work at night with Meri so that you may be intimate with her and her son. And in this way he worked with zeal, and the reeds which he would weave he would give to the deacon so that he might sell them, and the price which he received he would give to the woman, so that she might give birth and be delivered of her burden, she and her son. But God, the lover of humanity, who gives honor to those who give honor to him, who first knows those who have not become like those who have been judged, who knows his chosen ones from before they were born, from the time they were on the face of his desire, he did not wish to hide the hidden thing, nor did he wish to keep his mouth silent about the many things revealed concerning the polity of his servant Macarius. But he gave testimony so that all might know that there is hope for the pious. Then, when the time came for the poor woman of that village to give birth, the pains fell upon her in a moment, and she was in danger of death for forty days and forty nights, and she was unable to give birth. Her mother said to her, “What is it?

that which is hidden from me. For behold, until a little while ago I was a virgin. But she said, "My husband, I am worthy of death, for not only did I commit the sin, but I also slandered the servant of God, the anchorite, and moreover the holy one did not take me at all, but it was the son of the maidservant who did this to me." And when that maidservant heard, he fled so that he would not be caught. That poor woman also gave birth in the taking of her confession. Behold, the deacon of the holy Abba Macarius came out to him with great joy and exultation, and he was saying to him, "Did not the maidservant who slandered you, did she not have the power to give birth until she confessed that it was not the holy one who did this to me, but the son of the maidservant?" And all those who heard what had happened came all together to Abba Macarius, giving him honor and exulting over him greatly. The deacon was rejoicing exceedingly, and the Lord God removed all shame from his face because they were mocking him a little before by a multitude who were reviling him, saying,

to him, "Behold, the man of whom you speak, saying he is a holy man, behold we have found him in this manner and in this way. These things having happened in this way, the holy abba Macarius took counsel to go out from that monastery and to go to another place, to be there. Then, on a certain appointed day, he was to receive the holy mysteries according to his custom, standing in his place for the service according to his habit. He looked to the left of him, to his right, and he saw, behold, a cherubim having six wings and with many eyes, standing there. And when abba Macarius fixed his eyes upon him, as if to see what it was, then through the light and the brightness of his glory, it fell upon his face. The holy abba Macarius said, and he acted as one dead. And when he had been a little while prostrate on the ground, the cherubim strengthened him and raised him up, and when he had become sober, he said to him, "Why has your heart been troubled in this whole way, that you have been negligent of those who spoke with you in the cave of Petra, and all those whom you heard in that place, have they become before you?

like a lamp. Nevertheless, you have done well to endure the temptation until it reached its completion, so that through the trial you might learn little by little and become a tested one in these struggles, in which the Lord will grant that you be tempted by the demons and men together. Then the completion of the liturgy to which you were assigned, which you have undertaken, and receiving from the holy mysteries, they will become for you purity and strength, and you will be prepared in the coming hour so that you may depart from this place in haste and be in the place to which you were directed by our Lord together. Only, be diligent and do not be negligent regarding the command that was given to you. I myself, in the coming hour, will come to you at this place, and we will depart from the hour, and no one will know about the burden of the men. And do not be afraid in any way, for thus it is that the Lord commanded me, not only that you depart from this place, but also that I may be with you.

also in the place which the Lord showed you, until those whom you heard speaking with you according to the manner are completed. For in this way God gave testimony that you should become a father to many, not according to the birth of the flesh, but according to the adoption of the spiritual children. And I received a command from the Lord, that the people whom you will guide according to the gift of my God, I should serve them in a mystery until the end of the days, if they keep the commandments and the commands of the Lord which you will give to them. And these things he said to him again, he said to him, "I will come to you in the coming night; do not fear, nor doubt, for the Lord is the one who commands you. Do not contradict." The holy Abba Macarius, then, having received consolation and strength through the presence of the Cherubim, then he forgot all the sufferings and the pains which had been given to him, and in this way he prepared himself to follow according to all the things which had been spoken to him. And in

the dawn came and he arose to perform the synaxis according to his custom. Behold, the whole place became illuminated as if it were the time of midday in the days of summer. And Abba Macarius understood by this coincidence that it was the Cherubim who had come to him. But when that power had remained a little while without speaking to Abba Macarius, lest he be troubled, then at last he said to him, "Arise, gird yourself with strength from the one who gives you strength, God, and follow me to the path which was first shown to you already by the Lord." And in this way, all things were accomplished in the monastery; he went out with joy, walking behind him by the Cherubim, or rather by the power of God. And after two days, they came into the mountain, and they were seeking this place, and this one as if they would worship on the mountain. Then Abba Macarius said to him, "I am afraid, my Lord; tell me, what place will I be? For I know nothing in this path." The Cherubim said to him, "This boundary is your choice; behold, the place lies before you. But test and remain with the one who does good. Only, beware of the evil spirits and their disturbances.

...the evil one, and if you establish [it], I will find your shadow continually, according to the manner that my God commanded me. And after many days had passed, Abba Macarius, while searching for the mountain, going around, came down to the beginning of the marsh, which extends toward the side of the Anabolus, so that the water might not be disturbed by him too much. And he dug into the rock, made a cave, and dwelt in it for some days. Then he took the habit of going to the desert places and of practicing hesychia more, and he went up from the rock that is on the south side and dwelt there. For indeed, the monks would give him trouble near the Anabolus, being in distress going up in the sides where the soldiers had been slain among them by the barbarians. And after a time there, he dug two caves in the rock, and in one of them he made a cell on the north side, so that he might receive a blessing in it, and he would sit praying, and he would work at weaving, and the baskets that he would make, he would give them to the monks. And when they were finished, they would bring [supplies] to him.

...the one who has need of it, along with the rest of the spiritual offering to the holy liturgy. And when the multitude of demons who were in that place saw the courage of the heart of the saint and his inner fervor toward God, they became like wild beasts raging, circling around him, yet they were unable to approach him, for truly they had not been permitted to do so by God. This happened to him according to the mercy of God, so that he would not be troubled from the beginning, and so that he would not abandon the struggle, for truly there would be no one in that mountain who would take the path for him through a counsel against the evil thoughts of the spirits that are dark. And when not many days had passed, he said within himself, "Behold, I have found this path according to the manner that was commanded to me, but there is no one in this place who will take the path for me to the spiritual work according to the practice of those who dwell in the deserts, and what I am to do." This I heard while I was in Egypt concerning the holy one.

...the one who has need of it, along with the rest of the spiritual offering to the holy liturgy. And when the multitude of demons who were in that place saw the courage of the heart of the saint and his inner fervor toward Antonius, for he had been in the inner deserts for a long time. I will go to him and stay with him so that he may give me a rule. And in this way my thoughts will be settled until I return to this place. And when he arose, he prayed, and when he came out, he went to the mountain, to the place of Abba Antonius. And when he had met him, the old man received him with great joy and gladness. And when he had told him his thought with boldness, as a son before his father, he asked for some guidance. Then the old man laid his hand on his head and said to him, "My son Macarius, blessed are you, for according to the interpretation of your name, indeed the Lord first informed me about you some days ago, saying, 'He will come to me.' Therefore, at this time I am waiting, so that we may see your salvation and know your condition." Then the old man gave him the rule and instructed him in words fitting for the monastic habit, having set before him the entire manner in which the demons had warred against him in thoughts, in secret and openly, even to the point of death, so that you also, he said, may be strong if they should attack you. And Abba Macarius was not afraid, so that he might remain with him. The old man, however, did not allow him to stay, but he would say to him, "Each one, each one according to the measure which the Lord has assigned to him, let him remain in it." And after some days there, he would receive counsel continually; his thoughts were calmed until he returned.

...the one who has need of it, along with the rest of the spiritual offering to the holy liturgy. And when the multitude of demons who were in that place saw the courage of the heart of the saint and his inner fervor, they fled in fear. And he remained there, not moving from the place of the mill, I, the least one, Apa Sarapamon, and after the prayer of the evening, we would bless those who had triumphed among the saints, and also we would recount the lives of one another. When the holy one had set out on his way, he sat in his dwelling place, alone, looking toward God, and his hope was in him, and the cherubim constantly surrounded him, according to the time.

...the one who has need of it, along with the rest of the spiritual offering to the holy liturgy. And when the multitude of demons who were in that place saw the courage of the heart of the saint and his inner fervor, they... then at nightfall of one day he came out because he was going to fill water in the basins of the hermitage, for indeed they were empty, and he had not yet finished his meal, and he was still walking and meditating on the scriptures. And behold, a voice came from heaven: "Macarius, Macarius." He, however, stood still and bowed down to this place and that, and there was no one around him. Then again he heard the voice a third time. He, however, became afraid and sat down. And the voice said to him: "Because you have heeded my command and followed me, behold, I will gather for you a people in this place from every tribe, so that they may serve me and so that I may receive honor among them through the taking of the offering of blessing upon my name from their hands, through their good works and their chosen way of life. See now, do not be troubled by anything from those who come to you." When his heart came to itself, he arose and went on his way, and when he turned toward the cave, the sun set, and after he had eaten, he slept in that same evening. As he was about to rest according to custom, he heard the demons speaking with one another, saying: "Shall we leave this man to dwell in this place, and through him...

...the one who has need of it, along with the rest of the spiritual offering to the holy liturgy. And when the multitude of demons who were in that place saw the courage of the heart of the saint and his inner fervor, they said among themselves, "This one is not like the others; he is a man of great strength. Let us therefore prepare a great battle against him, for if we do not overcome him now, he will become a refuge for many, a place of rest for all who are in danger, and even a city fortified to the heavens for those who hope for eternal life. If we do not contend with this one, many will gather to him, and the demons will not be able to prevail against him because of his great strength, but rather they will be driven away by the whip of his prayer. But come, let us be afraid of him, for perhaps we will not be able to withstand him." When the holy Macarius heard these things, his heart was strengthened like that of a lion, and he blessed God within himself, who had made known to him the weakness of the demons who were troubling him. After the saint had prayed, the whole multitude of demons came out to the top of the cave upon the rock, and they were like a multitude of horses arrayed for battle against one another. Some others came to the mouth of the cave and began to fashion chariots of fire, hurling them into the cave, and immediately they would dissolve. But the holy Macarius began to sing psalms in a calm manner, saying, "O Lord, you are my light and my help; I am not afraid for the sake of anyone. O Lord, you who provide for my salvation, I am not faint of heart for the sake of anyone, nor for those who come after these things." When morning came, he went out, and behold, there was nothing there. And he entered and sat down to his work according to his custom.

And again it was as if the signs were constant, because the Lord sent him to be tempted by the thoughts. Thus the demons would cast evil thoughts into his heart. And like a table, he said, filled with all kinds of dishes of food, so the thoughts of fornication, laziness, sloth, grief, pride, vainglory, fear, sorrow, despair, arrogance, faithlessness, slander, and hopelessness toward God—which cuts off all the paths of piety—were set before me. Once and for all, the entire catalog of the demons' activity in the thoughts was given to him, just as our father Apa Antony had taught. And in these, the Lord was with him as a helper through his providence and his righteous will toward him, and he came forth victorious. When a time and an occasion came for him in these, then he arose and came to the holy Antony. And when he saw him from afar, he said to us, his disciples, "Behold, here is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit; for he will become a fruitful vine, fruitful and straight, and the fruit of his labors will be sweet in the mouth of the Lord, speaking to his children and the children of his children, who will receive from his holy teachings.

Then Apa Antony met the holy Apa Macarius. He cast himself down on his face and worshipped Apa Antony on the ground, and when he had risen, he greeted him. And when the old man saw Apa Macarius, that he was thin and weak in appearance because of the blows and the afflictions of the demons, the old man said to him, rejoicing, "What is it that has happened to you, my son Macarius?" Apa Macarius said to him, "God has been pleased to inform you first, my father, of what has happened to me." And he gave him an account in some

He said to him, "Be strong, and find strength. For in this way God has given grace that you may be strong in all things, the good things, so that you also may help other monks in the taking of the habit, that you may give them strength." For you have been troubled, father, by a multitude of monks, those who love the philosophy with me of the monastic life, according to the manner that they taught you this by the voice of the Lord, which happened for you when you went to fill water. But Apa Macarius, when he heard these things, still not having known anything in his thoughts, he marveled and said within himself, "This thing is not necessary, that I should hide anything from the holy one, for already he knows all things in the spirit." And he had done some evil things before him until he received his blessing and his counsel at one time. He was showing himself to him that he might give him the habit. For Apa Macarius had said in a mystery, "Do not give yourself labor that you come to this place, for truly the time has not yet come for me to go to the Lord." And when he had given face in humility, he gave the habit upon him, and in this they called.

to him, "The disciple of Abba Antonius. He himself, Abba Macarius, gave himself to Abba Antonius and gave repentance to him in the caves, that he might place himself under him until he received the blessing at the end. But he, not wishing to give him trouble, placed him under him. Then he gave repentance to him, and the old man said to him, 'Still a little, my lord, I will give you rest from the majority of the evil thoughts. And after these, again they will be cleansed for you in the one that appears like the sun. But be strong and find strength, my lord, for the helper is with you. Do not fear, and see that power there. I spoke to the Cherubim. Do not give any reproach to him in any matter, so that he may remain with you until the completion of a consolation according to the manner that was commanded to you by the Lord with him at once.' These then, when Abba Macarius heard them, again he was troubled and said to the old man, 'I give myself to you, my holy father, so that I may stand under you until I receive your blessing, if you lay down the body.' The old man said to him, 'The time is not, my son, nor is this ordained.'

But rather, as I first told you, the one who was appointed, each one individually, let him remain steadfast within it. And the old man gave him a garment, having woven it, and he embraced him, and prayed over him. And when our holy father Abba Antonius had completed his course, he laid down his holy body. And our holy father Abba Macarius returned to his dwelling place in the desert, and he was sitting, rejoicing in his services, giving glory to our Lord Jesus Christ. After these things, many people began to gather around him, one after another, asking him to make them monks, so that they might be under his authority and he might teach them the way of the Lord. And he became for all who came to him, as it had been foretold to him, and he guided them all, each one according to his character, and he kept them under his authority until he taught them the work of God, the building of men, and the work of the hand. In this manner he

It was not possible for them to make caves in the rock and to hide themselves from the wild beasts and the animals and the reeds of the marsh, and to dwell in them. And some of the brothers he placed under his authority as according to the order of discipleship. At that time, however, there came to him two young men from the regions of Rome, wishing to dwell in the desert, and these also he received and established them. Not yet, however, had it happened that the Lord found their rest, and they were buried. The old man bore witness concerning them that their work was pleasing to the Lord in this entire manner. When those holy young men were buried, they were placed near the cave, and when some of the monks were dwelling in that same place near the cave of the saints, they called the entire place there "the Troad of the Romans" until this day. When the holy Macarius saw the multitude of the people and their love towards God and towards one another, then the holy Abba Macarius bowed down to them once, and they all gave their hands.

They built for themselves a small church. The holy Abba Macarius, however, his name was at the head of them, leading and guiding as far as the courtyards of the rivers, because of the multitude of the practices and the healings which the Lord was working through him, bringing glory to him. And the demons saw this marvel, this form of piety, and the multitude of souls to whom the holy one was bringing help, and even more, he was bringing them as gifts to God, that they might serve him. They were greatly troubled, and they came down upon him at the time of evening, while he was sitting alone, and they surrounded him entirely, like wild beasts, and they spat upon his face, and they tore at his flesh with great violence, so that they made his whole body like a sieve. And when he had become exhausted and weary, there was no one to give him a hand, and he barely, with difficulty, came to the church. When he had recovered from these things, behold, the Cherubim appeared to him and said to him, "This place, the Lord has prepared it through you. Now, follow me, and I will show you the path which you will walk.

...out from within him to the end. And he drew it over himself, he brought it upon the top of the rock which is to the south of the sun, to the north of the pool, to the height of the old woman, and he said to him, "Take heed, build for yourself a dwelling place in this place, and build a church, for there is a house, there is a people who will come to dwell in this place after a time." And thus it happened there until the day of his death, and after his death they called that place Abba Macarius, because he fulfilled it from within him. The holy Abba Macarius, however, dwelt in that place for many days, and they gave him great labor in secret and in public by the demons. He neglected, he rejoiced once when he had woven a mat with the brothers, for they had saved themselves from it, and when the time of evening came, they left them because they had taken a little rest. But he hid himself alone, his hand out, before he went in, and the demons came upon him, they burned him with a firebrand, and they began to tear the mat until its fringe reached his throat.

When the brothers came out and saw him, they said to one another, "What has happened to our father?" And when they came to him, they said to him, "What is this that has happened to you?" But he, having closed his mouth in silence, said to them, "Take hold of me, bring me up." And in this manner they brought him up, and when they had dug the well, they drew water from it, and they gave a name to that well, calling it "The Well of Abba Macarius," until this day, because he had dug it down into it. For indeed, he had dug many wells with the brothers, and none of them were named after anyone except this one. And even after his death, many healings took place in that well. The holy Macarius used to bring many healings to many places, even to the other regions that are in the desert, and he would perform the healing for all of them, almost like one of the apostles. For indeed, the great Antony was the first to bear witness for him, saying that the gift of healings was given to Abba Macarius by God. And one can find the place of his dwelling at all times, filled with those who are sick.

and those who were possessed by demons, he would heal them by the sign of the cross in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. He would purify those who were afflicted, and he would pray over them, and by the word of his mouth, or rather by the power of God, he would send them away healed, each one to his own way. And the dead, he would raise them up once and for all, so that nothing was impossible before him because of his great humility and his boundless love for God, or rather the Holy Spirit who was working in the whole universe that existed within him. They neglected to bring him a cup of vinegar of a certain kind, which was untamed, causing fear in everyone who would touch it and restrain it, and they would do it with difficulty. They brought him to the holy man. And when they brought him to the old man, he said to the people, "Release him." And when they released him, he immediately drew upon himself, he stripped the garment that was on his neck and his hands, and he went out from the mountain, roaring at them like a camel. And the people said to the old man, "He will seize a man and destroy him." But the old man prayed in secret, and the old man said, "Release him, do not be afraid.

and when he had returned to this place again, he also stood over them, and the old man said to him, “What is your name?” He said to him, “Satan is my name.” And the old man said to him, “Now come out of him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and do not stand against him until the day of his death, for thus the Lord Jesus Christ has said.” And when the man fell, he became like a dead man before him, and the holy old man took water, poured it over his face and his ears, and thus he gave it to him to drink, and when he had laid him down to sleep, the men came in, and he prayed to God, and when he had finished, he took oil and gave it to him to drink from the vessels of the place of the sanctuary. Thus also his other ears, and when he had moved toward him, he said to him, “Rise, go to your house.” And when he had risen, he heard and spoke, and the demon went away from him, and they gave glory to God and to the holy Abba Macarius because of the miracle that had happened. Now when Abba Macarius was sleeping one night, the demons came

They said to him, “We are saints; stand up so that we may pray.” He sat down and said to them, “Go to the place of darkness, where weeping will be.” They said to him, “Will you find a saint to stand and pray with us? For a demon would not say to a man, ‘Pray,’ but behold, we are making the sign of the type of the Trinity.” Again he rebuked them in the name of the Lord, and when they had come to him, they began to move toward him together with the wall that was below him, and in the moment of his crying out, “My Lord Jesus, help me!” immediately they became like ashes and vanished. While he was sitting one day, behold, the Cherubim came to him, and when Abba Macarius saw him, he rejoiced. And he said to him, “Be strong in your struggles and in all things; give glory to God, and see yourself, lest you become proud because of these powers that you have overcome, and lest your labor be destroyed.” And Abba Macarius said to him, “What is my pride, my Lord? For behold, the demons are crushing my body and my soul together through the violence of their harsh passions, and I am left alone by myself.

like a woman who is pregnant in her womb, and how I have become proud. But through the experience that the Lord Jesus Christ is my helper, and his grace is what heals me. It happened again after some time, while the holy old man, the saint Abba Macarius, was practicing hesychia there, that he was thinking within himself, "I will go out from the inner desert and see if perhaps something has happened to me in the deserts." And as this thought persisted with him for three years, then he said within himself, "I will rise and go and enter the inner desert and see what I will find there, according to what they said to me." And the holy old man Abba Macarius went out and walked for four days, and when he came upon a lake, he saw an island in its middle. And when he came to the island, he saw, and behold, there were men whose hair had grown long and their nails had become like sickles, and they were transformed by the air, and their faces and eyes had become large, they had become another form, so that when he saw them, he was frightened, saying, "They are spirits.

They, when they saw him, were afraid, so that he almost fell down. Then they honored him, calling him in the name of the Lord. But he, having taken courage, spoke with them, and they said to him, “What is it that afflicts you, or have you come out seeking something?” And he said to them, “The one I was seeking, I have found, and the Lord has not hidden him from me, for he is the blessed one.” And when he had brought him to them, he exhorted them, saying, “Perhaps they are spirits.” And when he realized that they were holy men, he bowed down to them. But they rebuked him, and he asked them about certain matters. They said to him, “We have not dwelt in a monastery in the desert, and we have never seen a habit like the one you are wearing. But since a certain agreement has come among us, we have come to this place at a very opportune time, and if we had come here, we would not have encountered any man of this world except you. For we walk together on this mountain, and we see many beasts in many forms, and the wild beasts of the mountain, we encounter them many times, and through the help of the Lord, no one has harmed us, nor have we been injured, as you see us walking now, we are naked. This is the case at all times; we do not suffer from heat or cold, nor from hunger or thirst, because the Lord is the one who governs us in this way.” And when they asked him about the world and worldly things, he answered them, saying, “Through God and your prayers, the Lord protects them through his providence.

And after he had received their blessing, he went out from them and returned to his dwelling place. But the holy Abba Macarius was steadfast in his asceticism, and his soul was continually directed toward the service of God, and he burned with love for God. He was a terror to the demons, so that through the multitude of the sufferings they inflicted upon him, they were compelled to desist from him, being vanquished by him. Once, when they gathered against him while he was in the desert, they brought forth from the side of the brethren a cross that was in his hand, and having taken it, they raised it above him as if they were about to bring it down upon him. But he, whose heart was strong as a lion, cried out to them in a loud voice, “If the Lord has given you authority over me, then bring it down upon me; if not, then go away into the darkness.” And when they had gathered together, they cried out to him, saying, “Woe to you, Macarius, for we have let you go this whole year because all the suffering we caused you has been in vain, for we have found no fault in you.” And he said to them, “It is not my own strength that does these things, but the grace of the Lord.

And in this manner they became manifest, and from that day onward, the Lord prepared rest for him, especially from the blows and the attacks of the demons, and instead of battles, they would trouble him with an abundance of disturbance and constant consolation without passion, for he did not abandon his heart until the day of his death, but he continually thought, "This temptation is coming," and so forth.

of rest at all times according to the abundance of the discretion which the Lord had granted to him from his youth. When the holy one had grown old, he began to be visited by many crowds, so that he might give them the monastic habit, so that they might receive his blessing. And so it happened. They were with him, many disciples, but not all of them remained with him; only those who had attained this good attainment while he was alive remained in his vicinity, in other cells. And when the younger ones came after them, they called by name some other fathers, such as Abba John the Short and Abba Pishoi, the disciple of Abba Amoi, the disciple of Abba Pithou. The holy Apa Macarius rejoiced with great joy, seeing his branches that had multiplied and his seed that had spread abroad, and seeing the fruit-bearing trees of the spirit that he had planted in the vineyard of the Lord Sabaoth. He gave glory to God with thanksgiving and said, "All the works that were first begun for me, the Lord has completed them, and I have seen them with my own eyes. For not only the Egyptians are in that desert, but from many countries they gathered to him: Rome and Spain, Libya and Pentapolis, Cappadocia and Byzantium, Italy and Macedonia, Asia and Syria, Palestine and Galatia. In a word, his eyes saw those who had first begun for him, and they were fulfilled unto him.

He neglected himself when he had grown old and when he had become weak. The demons wished to test him, and they placed him sitting in the courtyard while the sun was setting. They troubled him so that he might sleep, having come to the shore from outside, and as if they were a crowd, they took on the form of some compassionate monks. They entered and bowed down, saying, "Have mercy on us." And when he recognized their voice, he threw himself down on the ground willingly, and each one said to his companion, "He will sleep." And the others said, "Perhaps he has died, for we have no rest from his vigilance, for at this time even his soul is as hard as adamant.

and our labor, he troubled himself to be, if he was negligent. See, for among all the labors that we had done for him, he did not care for himself. Come, let us say that he is dead, so that we may rest from his trouble. For after his death, this path will become narrow, and he will again become a stranger from these holy men, these as before. But he, hearing these things, kept his mouth shut, continuing in prayer. And those there were troubled by the disturbance that surrounded them. Then they threw stones, they knocked on the door, and not even then did he pay attention to them. Finally, they threw stones, they cast them down into the courtyard, and while he was making the sign of the cross over himself, none of the stones hit him, but he placed himself on the ground as if he were sleeping. And each one of them said, "In truth, Macarius has died." And they lifted up their hands, they wept as if rejoicing over his death, and they cried out. And when some of the brothers heard, they ran to the place to see what was happening. Then the holy one arose, stood up, and said to them, "The Lord will rebuke you, for you have removed the veil from the face of the whole earth." And they threw

They began to cry out against the elder, saying, "You have prevailed over us again, you evil old man!" And the one who had prevailed, the luminary, rebuked them in the name of the Lord, and they scattered like chaff. When the power had left him, the brothers were afraid of him, saying, "So that he might rest a little from the multitude of the labors that he gives himself." And he was saying to them, "Yet a little while, and all things will be completed. Nevertheless, I accept your good will, for I know the love that exists in you toward me, truly, for the work." And as he was sitting one day, about to eat at sunset, one of the disciples came in and said to him thus: "Behold, a man outside, who is a dignitary, has a camel with him, in the manner of some barbarian nations." And he said to them, "Do they want something, or are they seeking something?" The disciple said to him, "I do not know whether they want something or are seeking something." He said to him, "Bring them in." When the disciple had gone out, and

When he had spoken to them, they did not enter. Then the old man came out, and when he perceived in the spirit who it was, he said to the disciple, "Go." And when he had sat down, he said to the man, "Whom are you seeking?" The man said, "This young man is my son, and he has an archon with him in the same manner as he himself." The demon says, "I am an archon of the legions, who clothes himself in the form of a man many times daily, and I have cast him under a multitude of saints in his own region, stripping him of his garments and devouring his own flesh. For this reason I have given these garments to Apa S. upon him." And the old man said to him, "How did you dare to bring this young girl to this desert place, and you did not hide yourself from this, but you did the opposite of the spirit of grace? For this is the daughter of Agathonikos, the eparch of Antioch, whom you brought out with her from that place in secret, with great fantasy, these whom you have now hidden behind the mountain in the army, having brought her to this place in this guise so that no one would know you. And you have done well concerning the scandal." And when the man heard these things, he trembled and fell on his face at the feet of the old man. Then the saint said to him, "Rise, do not fear, and do not surrender yourself to the opposite of the spirit." And the man said to him, "I am ashamed before you, my father, for I am a servant of this young man, and according to the command given to me by her father, from the region I have acted in this manner, for I am a man of business.

And when the old man had called, they brought him a jar of oil. And when he had stood up, he prayed over the girl and the oil at once, and when he had made the sign of the cross over her forehead and her ears, he gave her to him healed. And he said to him, "You will not find your companions in this mountain of this district, because of the multitude of women who are weeping with you. But go to Egypt, to a place that is hidden from us, until your cattle find pasture and your other men. For behold, it is because of the faith of the father towards the saints and his right faith towards the fathers and the orthodoxy that the Lord has granted the healing of the girl. And through this experience you will know the matter of the place to which you will go in your country." And when the man had called some other monks among his companions who were standing outside, they brought him a sack which was open.

the hundred nomismata within him, and when the man had taken it, he stretched it out to the old man, saying, "I give honor to you, my lord father, so that you may receive this small blessing of my lord, the hundred nomismata, so that you may distribute them to the poor." But he said to him, "My son, do not give the gift of the Lord in exchange for a price, nor have we need of such a thing in this place, but go in peace to those who sent you." And when the man had taken it from his hand, as if he were keeping the words of the old man, he did not return to the mountain until he reached Egypt. And when he learned through experience that the girl was healed, he went to his country rejoicing and giving glory to God. Now we have come to this place where we have recounted these things because it is impossible to take hold of the powers and the healings that the Lord works through him, and the multitude of his ascetic practices, especially since other deeds of his have been written in other books. But the holy Abba Macarius grew weary through illness greatly, through the multitude of time, and his flesh withered almost completely through the sufferings that he gave himself in secret, for indeed the entire practice of his asceticism did not leave anyone to know his work completely until the day of his death, because he guarded himself greatly from the glory of men, according to the manner in which the cherubim had commanded him from the beginning.

Then his eyes became fixed and glazed, having been hollowed out by the extent of his ascetic practices and the length of his old age; for he was ninety-seven years old and about to die. In this, little by little, he grew weak and became bedridden, and he lay down, unable to get up, and he would come and go, and the brothers would gather around him. They would give him a little of their own food, each according to his work, and he would say to them, "Behold, all this time I have been with you, O Lord who knows that I have not hidden anything from you, lest I fail to inform you of what is beneficial for your souls. For indeed, I have acted as a guide for a hundred, not to scandalize anyone, whether small or great.

And he never slept, for he had a covenant with one another, and his conscience never despised it in any matter according to God, so that it might bear witness for me and for my love toward God and my companions, the Lord who knows him, and the love toward the whole creation. God knows it, and the Lord himself bears witness with me that it is as he told me at one time: "You have not yet reached the height of the women of the monastery who are in such a place in your discipline." Thus he meditated upon it until now. And all the other victories I have obtained over the demons, his grace knows that I never thought of myself, that I did anything by my own strength, but the victory, the mercy, and the help of the giver of the hand of his power are. Therefore, my brothers, be vigilant and watchful, for the house of the little blessed Macarius will be destroyed from without. Now when the brothers heard these things, especially seeing the weakness that was in her, they raised their voices and wept, so that he might comfort them and go his way, leaving them as orphans. And again he would give them strength to be silent, and he would say, "Has the time not yet come?

The time, therefore, why do you weep and grieve my heart? For it is a weakness until this happens to all of us, each one according to his time, according to the indissoluble bonds of the time of our God, and these which he appointed for them. With difficulty he cut their hearts to make them leave, and when they arose and went out, each one went to his place of dwelling. When the brothers had gone, however, again the weakness overcame him, and when he went to the cave alone, he slept. Now the time was the ninth hour. And as he thought within himself according to his grief over his taking of leave and his meeting with God and the judgment that would come upon him at that time and the place where it would happen, behold, two saints appeared to him, shining greatly in glory and honor, their faces full of joy. And when the old man saw them, he was silent, and one of them said to him, "Do you know who I am?" And he could not recognize him well because of the great brightness that was in them. And after a little while he said to the one speaking with him, "According to my opinion, you are my father Abba Antonius." And the holy one Abba Antonius said

He said to him, "Have you not known this one, who he is?" And again he was silent. For he was not one to speak any falsehood. He said to him, "This is our brother, Father Pachomius, the father of the monks of Tabennesi. Indeed, they sent us to help you. Therefore, take care, for indeed, the remaining days you will spend in the infirmary of the sick, and you will be under our care. And lift your eyes upward and look at the path that has been prepared for him, so that you may receive joy and depart in peace." And in this way, the holy ones withdrew from him. The holy elder, however, was silent for a while, so that he might not cause anyone grief and so that they would not trouble his spirit through people. For all of them looked upon him as a general in the midst of his soldiers. If one speaks of a general, the whole crowd acts as if they have been scattered from their ranks. And in this way, because of the humility, they were not able to approach the baths and the military ointments, especially in truth.

His manner was like that of God, the father of all the monks, after God. They all looked to him as to a father, and he had power over souls through his gift of strength. And he returned to the mountain according to his custom, to rise at dawn, then, through the weight of the illness, because he was weakened by the heat, then little by little he let go of his strength. And on the twenty-seventh of Pharmouthi, according to the word of Abba Anthony, which is the twenty-seventh of Pharmouthi, behold the Cherubim who was there, the one who had been coming to him from the beginning, came with a great multitude of choirs of bodiless ones, and said to him, "Jesus is with you; come out, for all these have stood waiting to receive you." And he said in a great voice, "My Lord Jesus, the beloved of my soul, receive my spirit to you." And thus he returned. For indeed, there were many with him at that time, but they did not know that he would die on that day, for he was accustomed, like a lamp, to give strength to the brothers. When all the brothers heard, they all wept and were grieved over the desert life.

...which happened for them. The brothers who were in the holy deserts, those who had received the rest of the entire path from him, which leads into the whole correction of virtue, and he completed them as a chief commander of all the weapons of the battle against the devil, the tyrant without shame, and his evil regiments, and he turned them finally upon the immovable foundation, which is Christ our God, who guarded them until the end, being unconquered through his high grace, which he poured down upon them through the gift of the hand of our holy father, the great Abba Macarius, in the receiving of the command, that these might be upon the receiving of the relics from the body of the saint. They came out from a place of dwelling, being prepared and hastening down upon the receiving of the burial of the one who had been justly taken to the heavenly dwelling places above, and he danced with the angelic powers of the heavens, those to whom he had also joined himself in work and word through the angelic deeds which he revealed in his holy life, and there is no wonder at him, these being lessons and ways of life for everyone who wishes to live according to the whole truth of the holy Gospels.

...which happened for them. The brothers who were in the holy deserts, those who had received the rest of the entire path from him, which leads into the whole correction of virtue, and he completed them as a chief commander. Then they filled the church, all of them weeping with a great lamentation over the taking of their father of this kind, which happened to all of them. They were troubled and they entered into the anchoritic life and the choice of good works. They placed them upon his holy body at a great time, all of them crying out with a great lamentation. And after these things, they performed the divine liturgy. They brought upon his honored altar the bloodless sacrifice, the body and the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then they placed his holy body in the cave beneath the church, which he himself had built. And they went to their dwelling places, being in great grief over the taking of the one who nourished their souls in the fear of the Lord, which they had received through the holy man Abba Paphnutius the Great, who was among the disciples of this saint. He also received the fatherhood in the holy places after him, because he too was a holy man, having followed the entire aim of the works of the great holy man Abba Macarius. Therefore, he became a namesake in these places, and the multitude of monks came to him, not only from Scetis alone, but almost from the whole land of Egypt, receiving from him the entire form of this virtue which he had begotten for himself with a good nature through the guidance he had received from him in...

The zeal of this righteous man, truly perfect and great, Abba Macarius. After some time, then, they gained power to go to the place where they had placed the body of the holy one, according to the manner in which it was revealed from the beginning of the narrative. And they came down to the tomb in secret, no one knowing about them, and they took the body of our blessed father to the village, as according to a permission, and they buried it in a worthy manner, having made a great reliquary from necessary woods, and thus they placed his holy body in it. And after a few days, they built a martyrium south and west of the village, which was first granted to them by the grace of God and the intercessions of the saint. And they adorned it abundantly and completed it until the 13th of Epip, then they sent for the holy bishop of that time to consecrate it for this purpose.

of the manner, and this one who brought with him many other bishops, they completed the holy liturgy in a fitting manner, and they brought up the holy sacrifice, and they gave the entire multitude from the body and the holy blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son, on the fourteenth day of the month. And then after the holy service, they laid down the body of the holy Abba Macarius, the righteous man, truly, in a place to the south of the holy site, having separated it from the tomb of his holy body, this one in which it had been until now, by great powers and wonders and healings that occur through the power of God the Great, which are with his holy servant Abba Macarius. And then when the entire vigil was completed, they proceeded according to a fitting order with many psalms and blessings and spiritual hymns; they went to their dwelling place in peace, giving glory to God, as the multitude of holy bishops who had gathered at the altar of the holy site of the truly great holy Abba Macarius. These things we have brought to this point, O beloved hearers of the teaching, as

of the manner, and this one who brought with him many other bishops, they completed the holy liturgy in a fitting manner, and they brought up the holy sacrifice, and they gave the entire multitude from the body and the holy blood. And they revealed to you from a part of the honorable deeds of our righteous father within, so that you might know from these what kind of life this perfect man had in truth. For indeed, in our desire, we have left aside many things from the signs and wonders or the healings which God works through him, so that the discourse might not become too lengthy. Perhaps you might think it is falsehood because of the greatness of his wondrous deeds. For truly, he labored in this entire manner so that we cannot find another like him, who strove with him, or even to say that he labored against himself. Who then is the one who became equal to him in that time in his lofty practices and his precise faith? Or he himself took upon himself the entrance to God and his pure conscience into every one. Who then also is the one who became strong in his severe humility? Through this, he strengthened and subdued all the weapons of the power of the enemy, and he cast out his panoply which was firm within him, through the completions of the hope of his faith, in the manner which the Lord said before us.

the great one himself, Job, speaking concerning the devil, that his power had its beginning in his deception and his strength in the hope of his casting down, this one who prevailed before the holy one, and they pursued him through the power of God which was with him. Who also gave a bridle to the evil beast, which is the wrath, in the manner of this one, or who is it that generated for himself a rejoicing within all people in a single moment, in the manner of the holy one. Who also is it that cut down the pride, the abomination of God, in the manner of this one, or the arrogance that shatters the height of the good conscience of the soul, in the manner of this blessed one. Once and for all, who is it that shattered the entire enterprise of the enemy and made them a mockery within himself and revealed them from within himself as worthless and destroyers of men, in the manner that this true man did. For indeed, he cast off from himself, through the help of the Most High, all the evil opinions of the tyranny of the devil, through the abundance of his prayers and his strong tears which he made. Now, when we hear these things, O my beloved, let each one of us reveal this zeal within himself in the completion of this hope until the end, as if despising that now

the transformation of this perfect man, I spoke concerning our blessed father. Let us bring in the fruits of the Spirit to those whom we have seen in his wonderful life, for we have depicted them, behold, before our eyes at all times, and in these let us set forth the virtues that are fitting for the life of the solitary, which Christ our God has commanded us through the intercessions of our holy father and his teaching at one time, to those who have taken the path for us to them and he gave us light in their midst through his great magnanimity into the virtues according to God. For indeed he himself became an apostle in his time, and he did not become inferior to those great ones, Peter and John the holy apostles, in any matter through those whom we have seen with our eyes and those whom we have heard through other trustworthy ones, which are not now to be spoken of in detail, because each matter is chosen before God, one indeed because now there is not, let him bring in to God a mercy in a good eye of goodness to the one whose power is another, a love for God and a compassion of heart towards his fellow members, one.

an asceticism that teaches man, and one of a good vigil in a night and a vigil, one of a pure prayer, and one of a true confession of the laity, one of a purity of the body and the soul, and one of a temperance and a good conscience within everyone, he does not give us an opportunity that his service might be disturbed. Simply, let each one of us be prepared for those things which we have recounted now, so that our blessed father may see these good fruits, they give a taste within us, and they shine in our life at all times, and he may look down upon us before the one who is with him, Christ, so that we may be joined with him together in the places which he has desired in the kingdom of the heavens, continually. These things will be for us that we may desire them with him at one time in the grace and the humility and the philanthropy of our Lord and our God and our Savior Jesus Christ, from whom are all glory and all honor and all adoration, which are fitting for the Father and the Holy Spirit, the life-giver and consubstantial with him, now and at all times and forever and ever, amen.