Makarios of Pelekete

Venerable Makarios the Confessor (in the world Christophoros) was a monk and defender of the holy icons, abbot of the monastery of Saint John the Theologian at Pelekete, born in Constantinople about the middle of the eighth century and fallen asleep on 18 August 840. He was persecuted by the iconoclast emperors Leo V the Armenian, Michael II and Theophilos. He is remembered on 1 April (14 April on the new calendar), and our calendar also gives 18 August.

Youth

He was born at Constantinople and, before his tonsure, was called Christophoros. He was orphaned young and brought up by his uncle, who urged him to marry as soon as he could. Christophoros rejected the proposal and withdrew to a solitary church, whose priest gave him spiritual instruction and at length sent him to embrace monastic life at the monastery of Saint John the Theologian at Pelekete. There he was tonsured with the name Makarios and soon distinguished himself by obedience and humility. He was in the end made abbot of the monastery and was confirmed in the office, and ordained, by Patriarch Tarasios of Constantinople.

Confession

His biographer, who names himself Sabas, says that the emperor Leo IV promised Makarios an honourable post in the palace if he became an iconoclast, but he refused. He served in peace as abbot some fifteen years, until the emperor Leo V the Armenian began to enforce iconoclast policy. The emperor promised him honours and riches in exchange for the support of his monastery. Makarios answered that honours and riches had no value for him and that the sufferings for the true faith he would accept with pleasure, every one the emperor could devise for him, and even more. In reply the emperor subjected him to various tortures and sent him to prison. One source says that Leo sent to prison Patriarch Nikephoros, with many bishops and archimandrites.

He remained in prison until the death of Leo V, when he was freed by his successor, Michael II the Amorian. He lived for a time with the exiled Patriarch Nikephoros. Later the emperor Theophilos, who had renewed the assault on the icons, sent him into exile on the island of Aphousia. He died there on 18 August 840.