St. Macarius, metropolitan of Moscow (1563)
St. Macarius, metropolitan of Moscow (1563)
Commemorated on December 30
He was born in Moscow in 1492. When his father died, his
mother became a nun and he a monk, receiving the monastic name Macarius. He
became an iconographer of rare talent. In 1523 he was ordained to the priesthood
and made Abbot of the Monastery of Luchski; three years later he was consecrated
Archbishop of Novgorod and Pskov, a see which had been vacant for many years. As
Archbishop, he sent missionaries to the native peoples of the far north of
Russia and, within his own diocese strove against the paganism still common
among the people. He regularized life in the monasteries of his diocese, which
had fallen into self-indulgence.
In 1542 he was elected Metropolitan of Moscow and head of the Russian Church.
Five years later he crowned the first Tsar of Russia, Ivan Vassilievich. In 1551
he summoned the Council of the Hundred Chapters, which condemned various
heresies prevalent at that time, laid down principles of Christian conduct and
education, and established rules for iconography and Church art. Throughout his
time as a hierarch, he continued to paint icons, and in 1553 he brought about
the production of the first books to be printed in Russian. When the Khanate of
Kazan fell, he immediately sent missionaries to convert the Tatars.
When the Tsar, who revered Saint Macarius, asked him for a spiritual book, he
was surprised and displeased to be given a copy of the funeral service; but the
Saint told him that anyone who read this book carefully and applied its words
would never sin.
Saint Macarius reposed in peace in Moscow in 1563, and his popular veneration
began immediately. In 1988 he was officially glorified by the Church of Russia.