Makarij

Makarij a noted Russian prelate, was born in the Moscovite province near the end of the 15th century. He early entered the monastic state; became archimandrite (abbot) of the Lus-hezkian monastery at Mos-haisk; in 1526, archbishop of Novgorod Veiikiz; and in 1542, finally, metropolitan of all Russia. He died at Moscow Dec. 31, 1564. By reason of his talents, scholarship, ecclesiastic authorship, eloquence, zeal for Christian missions among the heathen, extensive activity and influence, and patriotism, and by reason of the sincerity of his character, Makarij figures prominently in Russian history. When yet archbishop, he converted the Ishudian tribes in the north of the empire, and is justly styled the "apostle of the Ishuds." When a metropolitan, he gathered around himself numerous scholars from Russia as well as from abroad, with whose aid he compiled many books. His celebrated "Book of Legends" went through more than a dozen editions, and was translated into German. — Wagner, Staats and Gesellsch. Lex. vol. xii, s.v.