Macarius of Egypt was a Christian monk and hermit. He is also known as Macarius the Elder or Macarius the Great.

He was born in Lower Egypt, in the village of Shabsheer (Shanshour), Roman Egypt around 300 AD. At some point before his pursuit of asceticism, Macarius made his living by smuggling saltpeter in the vicinity of Nitria. Doing so, he learned how to survive in and travel across the wastes in that area.

Macarius was known for his wisdom and friends and close kin used to call him Paidarion Geron, which meant the "old young man", i.e., "the young man with the elders' wisdom."

Though he did marry at the insistence of his parents, he was soon widowed. Shortly after, he lost his parents as well. Macarius distributed all his money among the poor and needy, and found a teacher in an experienced Elder, who lived in the desert not far from the village. He accepted the youth, guided him in the spiritual science of watchfulness, fasting and prayer, and taught him the handicraft of weaving baskets.

A while later, a pregnant woman accused him of having defiled her. Macarius did not attempt to defend himself and accepted the accusation in silence. However, as the woman's delivery drew near, the labor became exceedingly difficult. She managed to give birth only when she confessed the innocence of Macarius. A multitude of people then came asking for his forgiveness, but he fled to the Nitrian Desert to escape all mundane glory.

As a hermit, Macarius spent seven years living on only pulse and raw herbs. While at the desert, he visited Anthony the Great and learned from him the laws and rules of monasticism. At the age of forty, he became a priest, and the fame of his sanctity drew many followers. The community, which took up its residence in the desert, was of the semi-eremitical type. Macarius presided over this monastic community for the rest of his life.

For a brief period of time, Macarius, along with Macarius of Alexandria were exiled to an island in the Nile by the Emperor Valens during a dispute over the doctrine of the Nicene Creed. During their time on the island, the daughter of a pagan priest had become ill. The people of the island believed that she was possessed by an evil spirit. Both saints prayed over her and saved her. Impressed by this, the people of the island stopped their worship of the pagan gods and built a church. When word of this got back to the Emperor Valens and Bishop Lucius of Alexandria, they quickly allowed both men to return home.

Macarius died in the year 391 and after his death, the natives of his village of Shabsheer stole the body and built a great church for him in their village. Pope Michael V of Alexandria brought the relics of Saint Macarius back to the Nitrian Desert on 19 Mesori. Today, the body of Macarius is found in his monastery, the Monastery of Saint Macarius the Great in Scetes, Egypt.

Other Saints of the Day
1. Saint Paul the Hermit
2. Saint Arnold Jansen
3. Saint Bonitus
4. Saint John Calabytes
5. Saint Maximus of Nola

- Catholic.org