Macarius of Jerusalem

Saint Macarius of Jerusalem was born in the Holy Land, though the details of his early life are not known. He became Bishop of Jerusalem around 312, shepherding the Church at a decisive moment when persecution was giving way to peace and the holy places of Christ’s Passion were coming again into the light. Remembered for his “honest and simple” apostolic spirit, Macarius stood firmly for the true faith against Arianism and was counted among the bishops who warned the Church about Arius. He took part in the Council of Nicaea in 325, where his witness to orthodox doctrine helped strengthen the confession of Christ’s divinity. That same era saw his devoted care for the sacred sites of salvation. He accompanied Saint Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, in the search for relics of the Lord’s Passion, and he oversaw the uncovering of the Holy Sepulchre and the building of the great basilica there, as well as other churches in the region. Venerated in East and West, he is honored as patron of Rasiglia. His feast day is March 10.