Venerable · 1788–1860
Macarius of Optina
Venerable Macarius of Optina
New Calendar September 7 Old Calendar September 20
Why they are a saint
Macarius of Optina was an optina elder, spiritual father to many laypeople and Slavophile writers; a classic Russian starets. The years given for this life are 1788–1860. Orthodox Christians remember him among the venerable monastic saints.
Patronage / why chosen as patron
Patron of monastics, spiritual counsel (when of Egypt / Optina), because he lived the monastic life of prayer and asceticism.
Prayer
O holy Macarius of Optina, pray to God for us.
A short general prayer to a saint, not a liturgical text. No public-domain troparion for this saint is included.
Do not confuse with Macarius of Egypt; other Optina elders.