Macarius of Unzha
| Macarius of Unzha | |
|---|---|
| Venerable, Zheltovodsky (of Yellow Lake) and Unzhensky (of Unzha) | |
| Born | ca. 1349 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia |
| Died | ca. 1444 Near Makaryev, Kostroma Oblast |
| Venerated in | Russian Orthodox Church |
| Canonized | ca. 1619 by Patriarch Philaret of Moscow (Russian Orthodox Church) |
| Major shrine |
Pechersky Ascension Monastery in Nizhny Novgorod, Zheltovodsky Makariev Monastery of Holy Trinity (his head, since 2007), Unzhensky Makaryev Monastery (the rest of the relics) |
| Feast | October 12 (25) (recovery of relics), July 25 (August 7) (repose) |
| Patronage | Makariev Fair; various places in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Ivanovo Oblast, and Kostroma Oblast; craftsmen, merchants, and travellers |
Pechersky Ascension Monastery in Nizhny Novgorod,
Venerable Macarius of the Yellow Water Lake and the Unzha, the Miracle Worker (1349–1444) (Russian: Преподобный Макарий Унженский Желтоводский Чудотворец, Prepodobny Makariy Unzhenskiy Zheltovodskiy Chudotvorets) is a Russian Orthodox saint. He is credited with the founding of four monasteries in the Middle and Upper Volga regions of Russia.
The story of saint Macarius is based on Chet’yi-Minei (the standard Russian Orthodox Lives of the Saints) as well as to other old manuscripts. One of them, kept in Makaryev Unzhensky Monastery, was first inventoried in 1835. The other is kept in Makaryev Zheltovodsky Convent, and is written in the 17th century hand.
Church scholars believe that he was most likely born in 1349. His home town, Nizhny Novgorod, was the capital of the Principality of Suzdal and Nizhny Novgorod, ruled by Prince Constantine Vasilyevich. As most other Russian principalities of the time, his land was dominated by the Golden Horde overlords.
Macarius was baptised in his parents' parish church, Church of Holy Myrrhbearers (Russian: церковь Святых Жен Мироносиц). His baptismal name is not known.
According to the Life of St. Macarius, when he was still a baby, he would start crying every time he heard the ringing of the bells of the nearby church. There was no way to console the child. The parents would not want to bring the baby boy to the church, afraid that he would disturb the service with his crying; but eventually they decided to try. And, to their surprise, as soon as they brought the child to the church, he became quiet, smiling joyfully. From this time on, the parents had to attend every service at the parish church, and to take the child with them, because if they stayed at home during the service, the baby would again start crying.
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