Our Holy Father Macarius the Faster, Abbot of the Monastery of Khakhuli (XI)

Saint Macarius the Faster is one of those holy fathers of the Apostolic Church of Georgia about whom we know very little; but the very fact that his name has been commemorated in the calendar of the Georgian Church for ten centuries now says a great deal, and his title too, the Faster, speaks volumes.

The monastery of Khakhuli was built, it seems, in the second half of the tenth century by David the Curopalates, king of Georgia. The labours of Saint Macarius and of fathers like him made the monastery a hearth of holiness, learning and education. The monastery lies today on the territory of Turkey, but the grace of the Georgian fathers who laboured there is still poured out as a hope upon Georgia.

The abbot of the monastery of Khakhuli, Saint Macarius, was a very great ascetic and a renowned spiritual father. Those wishing to become monks, and experienced monks, and laymen too, came to him for counsel, guidance and blessing. The boy George was brought to the Venerable Macarius for a blessing, later the very great ascetic George the Athonite, whom Father Macarius, gifted with foresight, called his spiritual child.

The Venerable Macarius, with the help of God, combined well the duties of the abbot of a monastery and the life of a solitary. For his exceptional fasting and prayer he was called the Faster. While he was abbot the monastery of Khakhuli shone “like the stars” and showed the way to those who wished to serve in the Church or in the world.

The Venerable Macarius died around the year 1034.