The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Macar the Libyan
d. AD 250 (burned alive) · Libyan layman · Martyr · Alexandria
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Macar the Libyan was
A Libyan pressed hard by the judge to recant, who would not, and was burned alive. Dionysius makes a pun on his name that the record should keep: the Greek makar means blessed, so he was ‘in name and blessedness a true Macar’ — which raises the real possibility that Macar is an epithet rather than the name he was born with. Distinct from all three Macarii already in the archive.
Named once in Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History; no other ancient source names him.
Also listed in martyrs and the decian persecution.
Common questions
When did Macar die?
Macar the Libyan is dated d. AD 250 (burned alive) in the archive, which places Macar in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313).
Which early sources mention Macar?
Macar the Libyan is named in 1 primary-source passage catalogued here, drawn from Dionysius of Alexandria. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Macar from?
The archive associates Macar the Libyan with Alexandria.
Who were Macar’s contemporaries?
The archive links Macar the Libyan to 2 other figures, including Julian the Confessor and Epimachus of Alexandria. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (1)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Letter to Fabius of Antioch, VI.41.17 — transmitted in Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History (c. 325)
c. AD 251A certain other one, a Libyan by birth, but in name and blessedness a true Macar, was strongly urged by the judge to recant; but as he would not yield he was burned alive.Dionysius of Alexandria · Ecclesiastical History VI.41.17 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 180 · The Scillitan martyrs, AD 180
- AD 190 · The Quartodeciman controversy, AD 190
- AD 202 · Perpetua and Felicity martyred, AD 202
- AD 235 · Maximinus Thrax targets the clergy, AD 235
- AD 250 · The Decian persecution, AD 250
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Macar.