Macrobius, Saint

              (CE: 1494a-1494b)
MACROBIUS, SAINT, or Makrawi, fourth-century bishop of Nikiou, who was martyred under DIOCLETIAN (feastday: 2 Baramhat). Only one very brief fragment of his Passion survives in Bohairic (National Library, Paris, Copte, 151, 1; ed. Devos, 1949), but the "original" text can be reconstructed through an encomium in his honor written by Mena of Pshati (ed. Hyvernat, 1886-1887, pp. 225-46) and through the summary in the Copto-Arabic SYNAXARION.

This text begins with the ecclesiastical career of the martyr, who becomes bishop and is noted for his zeal. Two emissaries of Diocletian have him arrested. There are then the usual scenes of courtroom questioning and of torture. Macrobius is then sent to Alexandria, where Armenius places him in prison. Here he has a vision of Christ and performs many miracles. He is taken into court again and tortured, but is healed by an angel. Armenius tries to have him drowned, casting him adrift in a boat, but without success; he then tortures him anew. Finally Macrobius is beheaded and his body is taken to his home town of Shmum.

This Passion was constructed in connection with the Cycle of Julius of Aqahs and its structure reveals late features that can be dated to between the seventh and eighth centuries.

TITO ORLANDI