Macarius the Great

Commemorated January 15 · January 19 · February 1 · April 5 · August 25

St. Abba Macarius the Great (295-392 A.D.; also known as Macarius of Egypt ) was among the most authoritative Desert Fathers of Egypt, and a disciple of St. Anthony the Great . The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates his feast day on January 19 ( February 1 by Julian Calendar). The Coptic Church at April 5 ( Baramhat 27 ), and the return of his body to his monastery at Scetis on August 25 ( Mesra 19 ). The Roman Catholic Church celebrates it on January 15 .
"Fifty spiritual homilies" of St. Macarius of Egypt is an authoritative patristic source. "The Homilies are well described as “spiritual” Homilies. That is their purpose and their character. They are not dogmatic; they are not controversial; they are not expository; they are not concerned with the politics or the expansion of the church; they have little to say about the Christian’s duty to his fellow-men. .. They have but one object, to help to bring individual souls to God in perfect self-subdual and absolute devotion."
The current Coptic Orthodox Monastery of St. Macarius the Great ( video ), which lies in Wadi Natrun, the ancient Scetis, 92 kilometers from Cairo on the western side of the desert road to Alexandria, was founded in 360 A.D. by the saint, who during his lifetime was spiritual father to more than four thousand monks of different nationalities - Egyptians, Greeks, Ethiopians, Armenians, Nubians, Asians, Palestinians, Italians, Gauls and Spaniards.
Not to be confused with St. Macarius of Alexandria , ; and St. Macarius the Martyr and Bishop of Edkao (near Assiut, Upper Egypt) . The relics of the three Macarii are today preserved at the aforementioned monastery.