Synaxarium – Meskerem 4 / September 14

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one God, Amen

Today we remember a very holy man: Abba Macarius, the 69th Archbishop of Alexandria.

From the time he was young, Abba Macarius loved God with all his heart. He dreamed of living a life of prayer and holiness. So, he traveled to the quiet desert of Scete, where he became a monk in the monastery of another saint, also named Abba Macarius.

Life in the desert was not easy. The sun was hot, the nights were cold, and food was scarce. But Abba Macarius prayed, fasted, and studied the Holy Scriptures every single day. His soul shone brightly because of his faith and wisdom.

One day, after Archbishop Abba Michael passed away, the bishops, priests, and wise teachers of the Church gathered. They wanted to choose the next archbishop. For many days they prayed and talked together. Finally, everyone agreed: Abba Macarius was the best choice!

But Abba Macarius didn’t want the honor. He cried out, “Please, I am not worthy!” He even said something to try to convince them not to choose him. But the people knew the truth—he was holy, humble, and filled with God’s Spirit. So, even though he begged them to let him stay in the desert, they gently but firmly brought him to Alexandria and made him Archbishop.

Later, in Cairo, his appointment was read aloud in three languages—Greek, Coptic, and Arabic—so everyone could hear.

As archbishop, Abba Macarius served God faithfully for 27 years. Every single day, he taught the people to love God and live good lives. He gave food and help to the poor, showed kindness to those in need, and never took anything for himself from the Church. Instead, he gave back even more than he received.

At the end of his life, he went to rest in peace, having pleased God with his faith and good works.

Glory be to God, Who is always glorified in His saints. Amen.