Macarius of Saint Anne Skete

Venerable Martyr Macarius of Saint Anne Skete is an Athonite New Martyr, born in Kios in Bithynia and beheaded at Prousa on 6 October 1590.

His name in the world was Manuel, and his parents were Peter and Anthousa, who gave him as a boy to a pious tailor to learn the trade. His father unexpectedly denied Christ and went to Prousa. When Manuel also came to Prousa, his father handed him over to the judge, falsely accusing him of having promised to become a Turk. Despite the boy's protests, the Turks beat him and forcibly circumcised him. After a few days Manuel managed to flee to Mount Athos and became a monk at Saint Anne Skete with the name Macarius.

After twelve years on the Holy Mountain he received a blessing to bear witness to the faith. He went through Constantinople to Prousa, was arrested and brought to trial, and confessed Christ, rebuking the Muslim religion: "I will never deny my true faith to accept your false one, for I will not leave the light to enter the darkness." He was cruelly tortured, stoned and beheaded on 6 October 1590. His head was later taken to Saint Anne Skete on the Holy Mountain.

The Saint is commemorated on 6 October, according to the new calendar.