Macarius the Faster

Venerable Macarius the Faster was abbot of the Khakhuli Monastery, in historic Georgia, a great ascetic and a well-⁠known spiritual father. Little is known of him, but the fact that his name has been commemorated in the calendar of the Church of Georgia for ten centuries says much; so does the name "the Faster", given for his exceptional fasting and prayer. He passed to the Lord around 1034. He is commemorated on 21 December, old style (3 January, new style).

The Khakhuli Monastery was built in the second half of the tenth century by King David Kuropalates and, through the struggles of Macarius and fathers like him, became a place of holiness, learning and teaching. Today it lies on the territory of Turkey. Macarius combined well the duties of abbot with the life of a hermit. To him came for counsel and blessing both those who wished to become monks and experienced monks, as well as laypeople. The child George, later the great George the Athonite, was brought to him for a blessing, and Macarius, with the gift of foresight, called him his spiritual son. In his time the monastery shone "like mountains" and showed the way to those who wished to give themselves to church or public service.