Venerable Makarios, Abbot of Zheltovod and Unzha
Our Venerable Father Makarios of Zheltovod and Unzha was born in the year 1349 at Nizhni-Novgorod into a pious family, and was baptized in the parish church of the Myrrh-bearing women. His secular name is unknown.
At the age of twelve, he left his parents' home, and was tonsured at the Nizhni-Novgorod Ascension Monastery of the Caves when Saint Dionysios (June 26) was the Igoumen.1 With all the intensity of his youthful soul, the future Saint devoted himself to the work of salvation. He attracted the notice of the brethren because of his very strict fasting and precise observance of the monastic Rule.
Only three years later did his parents learn where he had gone. His father went to him, tearfully begging his son to come out and see him. Makarios spoke to his father through the wall, saying that he would see him in the life to come.
“At least give me your hand," his distraught father said. The son acceded to his request, and after kissing his son's outstretched hand, the father returned home.
Finding his renown to be a burden, and disturbed by the many people who visited him, the humble Makarios moved to the shores of the Volga River, where he engaged in ascetic struggles near a place called Yellow Waters. With his firm determination and patience, he overcame the attacks of the Enemy of our salvation. Other lovers of solitude gathered around Saint Makarios, and he founded the Unzha Makariev-Trinity Monastery for them in 1435.
Later, with the permission of the local prince, and with the blessing of his Superior, he established a monastery on a tract called Yellow Waters. He was led there by the Great Prince Basil II the Dark of Moscow, who lived for some time at this monastery during his struggle with Prince Demetrios Shemyaka. There was a lake nearby, and the Saint baptized some local Finnish residents in it, enlightening them with the light of Christ's faith.
He began to preach Christ to the surrounding Cheremis and Chuvash peoples, and he baptized both Mohammedans and pagans in a lake. The Kazan Tatars destroyed the monastery in 1439, and took Saint Makarios captive. Out of respect for his piety and charity, the Khan released him from captivity and freed nearly 400 Christians along with him. In return, Saint Makarios promised not to settle at Yellow Waters.
The way back to their homeland took them through huge dense forests. Once, when the travelers were very tired and hungry, they caught an elk, and they wanted to kill it. However, Saint Makarios did not bless them to kill the elk, since it was during the Apostles' Fast. In order to identify the elk later, Saint Makarios told them to cut the tip of its ear. By the mercy of God, even the small children survived, after going without food until the Feast of the Apostles. On June 29, when the Fast ended, they encountered the same elk. The elk was killed, and the travelers regained their strength.
Saint Makarios buried those who had been killed at his monastery, and then he went 200 versts to the border of Galich. When he arrived at the city of Unzha, Saint Makarios set up a cross 15 versts from the city, and built a cell on the shores of Unzha Lake. There he started a new monastery.
During his fifth year at Unzha Lake, Saint Makarios became ill, and reposed at the age of 95. His holy relics rest there to this day.
After his death, the Tatars abducted a young woman on the very day of her wedding. They took her far away, and Saint Makarios appeared to her during the night. Miraculously, on that same night she found herself at the gates of her city, to the great joy of her young husband.
When he was still alive, Saint Makarios healed a blind and demon-possessed girl. After his repose in 1444, many people received healing from his relics. The monks built a church over his grave, and established a cenobitic Rule for the monastery.
In 1522, Tatars attacked Unzha and wanted to destroy the silver reliquary at the Makariev Monastery, but they were struck blind. Fleeing in a panic, many of them drowned in the Unzha River. In 1532, through the prayers of Saint Makarios, the city of Soligalich was saved from the Tatars. In gratitude, the inhabitants built a chapel in the cathedral church in honor of the Saint. By his prayers, more than 50 people received healing from grievous infirmities. This was confirmed by a commission which was sent to investigate by Patriarch Philaret in 1619.
Saint Makarios is commemorated on July 25, the day of his repose, and on October 12, the day when his relics were found in 1671, at the Unzha Makariev-Trinity Monastery which he had founded.
1 Later, he became the Archbishop of Suzdal.