The Nicene Age · AD 313–400
Macarius the Great (of Egypt)
c. 300 – 391 · Desert father · Priest of Scetis · Scetis, Egypt
The Nicene Age
Who Macarius the Great (of Egypt) was
A former smuggler of niter who withdrew about 330 into the wilderness of Scetis, the harshest of the monastic deserts, and became its spiritual centre — “the lamp of the desert,” famed for miracles, discernment, and a laconic wisdom preserved in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers. Ordained priest for the growing colony, he was briefly exiled by the Arian Valens. A body of Spiritual Homilies circulated under his name (though scholars assign them to a later Syrian hand). Anthony’s heir in the generation that made Scetis legendary.
Also listed in desert fathers & mothers.
Common questions
When did Macarius live?
Macarius the Great (of Egypt) is dated c. 300 – 391 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 the Great (of Egypt) is named in 3 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from The seven pilgrims' record, Palladius and The desert tradition. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Macarius from?
The archive associates Macarius the Great (of Egypt) with Scetis, Egypt. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Who were Macarius’ contemporaries?
The archive links Macarius the Great (of Egypt) to 7 other figures, including Amun of Nitria, Macarius of Alexandria, Anthony the Great and Ammonas of Pispir. 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.
History of the Monks of Egypt 21
c. AD 400Lausiac History 17
c. AD 420Macarius the Egyptian… was accounted worthy of such grace that, on account of the multitude of those who were healed and delivered from demons, he was surnamed the ‘child-old-man,’ for while yet young he had the wisdom of age.Palladius · 17 · source text
Sayings of the Desert Fathers (Macarius the Great, 41 sayings)
c. AD 450Connected in the archive
People
- Amun of Nitria
- Macarius of Alexandria
- Anthony the Great
- Ammonas of Pispir
- Pambo of Nitria
- Moses the Black
- Evagrius Ponticus
Events in this lifetime
- AD 325 · The Council of Nicaea, AD 325
- AD 339 · The persecution of Shapur II, AD 339
- AD 343 · The Council of Serdica, AD 343
- AD 361 · Julian’s pagan restoration, AD 361
- AD 366 · Damasus and the catacomb epigrams, AD 366
- AD 367 · Athanasius lists the 27 NT books, AD 367
- AD 372 · The martyrdom of Sabbas the Goth, AD 372
- AD 378 · Queen Mavia’s revolt, AD 378
- AD 380 · The Edict of Thessalonica, AD 380
- AD 381 · The Council of Constantinople, AD 381
- AD 381 · The Council of Aquileia, AD 381
- AD 384 · The Altar of Victory petition, AD 384
- AD 390 · Thessalonica and the penance of Theodosius, AD 390
Place
Places served
The 2 places the sources put Macarius, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route.