MACARIUS (IVANOV). — Russian monk of Optina Pustyn’ near Kozelsk, born in 1788, died on 19 September (7 according to the Old Style) 1860; one of the most celebrated startsy of nineteenth-century Russia. Persons of every rank and station thronged to him for long periods to receive his counsel and consolation.
His influence was immense. It was further augmented by a printing press established in the monastery from 1830 onwards. Thus he was able to spread throughout Russia many writings in his spiritual vein, which was entirely grounded in the works of the Church Fathers and the monks of Mount Athos, in the spirit of the first great Russian starets Paisiy Velichkovsky. His most famous disciple, even more renowned than himself, was Ambrose Grenkov, the most celebrated of all Russian startsy.