He was born in Egypt around the year 301. He served his parents with love and zeal in his old age, fulfilling the commandment to honor his parents, and after their death he became completely free from everyday worries. Under the guidance of an experienced monk-elder, St. Macarius began to undergo a silent monastic life and needlework. At first he settled in a deserted place not far from the village where he lived, then the monk moved to the Nitrian mountain in the Faran desert.
After living in the desert for three years, he went to St. Anthony the Great (+ 356), the father of Egyptian monasticism, of whom he had heard while still living in the world, and was eager to see him. Venerable Abba Anthony lovingly received Blessed Macarius, who became his devoted disciple and follower. The Monk Macarius lived with him for a long time, and then, on the advice of the holy Abba, he retired to the Hermitage desert (in the northwestern part of Egypt) and there he so shone with his exploits that they began to call him the "young elder", since, barely reaching the age of thirty, he proved himself an experienced, mature monk.. Here St. Macarius had to fight demons day and night, and they screamed that they could not defeat him because he had a great weapon – humility.
When the saint turned 40, he was ordained a priest and appointed abbot (Abba) of the monks who lived in the Hermitage desert. During these years, the Monk Macarius often visited the great Anthony, receiving instructions from him in spiritual conversations. Together with two other disciples of St. Anthony, St. Macarius was vouchsafed to be present at his blessed repose, and as a kind of rich legacy he received the staff of St. Anthony, with which he supported his feeble body on the way, depressed by old age and fasting exploits. Along with this staff, the Monk Macarius also received the spirit of Anthony the Great, just as the prophet Elisha had once received it after Elijah the prophet. By the power of his spirit, St. Macarius performed many wonderful miracles. One day, St. Macarius was talking to the skull of the chief pagan priest, who was telling about his torments and the more severe and cruel ones that befell those who recognized the name of God, but rejected Him and did not keep His commandments.
Because of the multitude of people who came to him, St. Macarius had little time to indulge in contemplation of God at a distance. Therefore, the monk dug a deep cave under his cell, about half a stage long, where he hid from those who constantly came to him and violated his divine thought and prayer. St. Macarius achieved such boldness in walking before God that through his prayer the Lord resurrected the dead. Despite such a height of godlike achievement, he continued to maintain extraordinary humility.
During the reign of Emperor Valens the Arian (364-378), the Monk Macarius the Great, together with the Monk Macarius of Alexandria, was persecuted by the Arian Bishop Luke. Both elders were captured and put on a ship, taken to a deserted island where pagans lived. There, through the prayers of the saints, the priest's daughter was healed, after which the priest himself and all the inhabitants of the island received Holy Baptism. Upon learning of the incident, the Arian bishop was ashamed and allowed the elders to return to their deserts. The meekness, humility, and mercy of the monk transformed human souls. St. Nicholas spent 60 years. Macarius is in a desert that is dead to the world. The monk spent most of his time in conversation with God, often in a state of spiritual rapture. Abba transformed his abundant ascetic experience into profound theological creations. 50 conversations and 7 ascetic words remained a precious legacy of the spiritual wisdom of St. Macarius the Great. The highest good and goal of man is the union of souls with God, is the main idea in the works of St. Macarius.
The monk lived to be 90 years old, and shortly before his death (+ c. 390-391), the Venerable Anthony and Pachomius appeared to him, informing him of the good news of his imminent transition to the blessed heavenly mansions. The monk began to prepare for his death. Nine days later, a cherub appeared to St. Macarius with a multitude of Angels. When the holy soul of St. Macarius was taken by a Cherub and ascended to heaven, some of the fathers saw with their mental eyes that the aerial demons were standing in the distance and screaming that St. Macarius had escaped them.