The Nicene Age · AD 313–400
Macarius of Jerusalem
d. c. AD 335 · Bishop of Aelia (Jerusalem) · Builder of the Holy Sepulchre · Jerusalem
The Nicene Age
Who Macarius of Jerusalem was
Bishop of Aelia at Nicaea — where the council's seventh canon confirmed his see's ancient honour — and the man to whom Constantine addressed the letter commanding a basilica over the newly uncovered tomb of Christ 'finer than all others anywhere.' Under his spade-work the Christian Holy Land begins; later tradition set him beside Helena at the finding of the Cross.
Also listed in bishops beyond the great sees.
Common questions
When did Macarius die?
Macarius of Jerusalem is dated d. c. AD 335 in the archive, which places Macarius in the Nicene Age (AD 313–400). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
Which early sources mention Macarius?
Macarius of Jerusalem is named in 3 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from The council of Nicaea, Eusebius of Caesarea and Sozomen. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Macarius from?
The archive associates Macarius of Jerusalem with Jerusalem.
Who were Macarius’ contemporaries?
The archive links Macarius of Jerusalem to 3 other figures, including Constantine the Great, Maximus of Jerusalem and Arius. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (3)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Nicaea subscription list (signing for Aelia)
c. AD 325Macarius Aeliae — Macarius of Aelia.The council of Nicaea · Nicaea subscriptions · source text
Life of Constantine III.30–32
c. AD 325Constantine, Victor, Maximus Augustus, to Macarius: It becomes thy sagacity so to order and provide everything, that not only shall this basilica be the finest in the world, but that the rest also may far surpass the fairest structures of every city.Eusebius of Caesarea · III.30 · source text
Church History II.1 (the finding of the Cross, with Macarius the discerner)
c. AD 445Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 268 · Antioch deposes Paul of Samosata, AD 268
- AD 272 · Aurelian awards the Antioch church, AD 272
- AD 301 · Hripsime and her company, AD 301
- AD 303 · The Great Persecution begins, AD 303
- AD 303 · The search of the church at Cirta, AD 303
- AD 306 · The Council of Elvira, AD 306
- AD 311 · Galerius’ edict of Serdica, AD 311
- AD 313 · The Edict of Milan, AD 313
- AD 314 · The Council of Arles, AD 314
- AD 320 · Silvanus tried before Zenophilus, AD 320
- AD 325 · The Council of Nicaea, AD 325
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Macarius.