Macarius of Libya

Holy Martyr Macarius of Libya was burned alive for Christ at Alexandria in the time of Decius (249-251). He was a Libyan by birth and proved worthy of his name, which means "blessed", receiving the blessedness promised by the Lord to all who are persecuted for His sake.

The Azbyka page commemorates him with other martyrs of the same persecution. The first was the old man Julian, sick with gout, who could neither stand nor walk and was brought to the judge by two servants. One at once renounced Christ, while the other, Cronion, also called Eunus, confessed the faith aloud with Julian. The two were carried on camels through Alexandria, scourged without ceasing, and outside the city were burned in a fierce fire before the people. The soldier Bezas (Vis), who had defended them from the fury of the mob, was seized and beheaded. Macarius, a Libyan by birth, could not be moved by the judge to renounce Christ, not even by the most pressing exhortations, and was burned alive. The same fate befell Epimachus and Alexander, and the holy virgin Ammonaria endured choice tortures; after them thirteen more martyrs suffered, in the years 249-251.

He is commemorated on 12 November, according to the Greek calendar. The name of Macarius is not in today's Menologion of the Russian Church.