Macarius Sushkin

Macarius Sushkin was a Russian schemaarchimandrite, abbot of St Panteleimon Monastery on Athos from 1875 until his repose in July 1889. He was the disciple and spiritual successor of Father Hieronymus and completed the restoration of Russian monasticism in the monastery. He is venerated by the faithful, without a synodal canonization.

Named Michael Ivanovich Sushkin in the world, he was born in Tula in a rich merchant family and from his youth felt called to the monastic life. He set out on pilgrimage to the Holy Places, passed through Jerusalem, Sinai and Palestine and arrived at Thessaloniki at the end of October 1851, and then, on 3 November 1851, on Athos, at Rossikon. He met the confessor Hieronymus, whose words strengthened him in his decision to stay. His illness worsened during his travels on Athos, and the doctor said he would not live till morning; Hieronymus then tonsured him into the great schema, on 27 November 1851, with the name Macarius, and the sick man recovered. He was ordained hierodeacon in 1853 and hieromonk in 1856, and made second confessor of the Russian brotherhood.

The abbot Gerasim, feeling his end near, regarded him as his successor. After Gerasim's death on 10 May 1875, Macarius was confirmed abbot on 20 July. He personally directed all the building, founded metochia at Moscow, Rostov and Odessa and worked tirelessly. He received the Medjidie order from the sultan in 1882 and on 7 January 1889 the Order of St Anne, second class, from the Holy Synod of Russia. Before his death he wished a successor to be chosen, and by lot Father Andrew (Verevkin) was chosen. On 18 July 1889 the feast of the Bogolyubskaya icon of the Mother of God was kept, which he honoured above others because his parents had blessed him with it when he left, and the next day he reposed. His holiness was confirmed by many appearances after death, recorded in books of the monastery. One writer said that all that is beautiful, pure and holy in the order of the monastery is the fruit of the labours of Hieronymus and Macarius.