Venerable Macarius (Glukharev) of Altai

Venerable Macarius (secular name Mikhail Yakovlevich Glukharev) was born October 30, 1792, in Vyazma. He studied at Smolensk Seminary and St. Petersburg Theological Academy, was tonsured in 1818, and served as seminary rector before living at Glinsk Hermitage (1821–1824). In 1829, with Synodal blessing, he set out to preach among Siberian peoples, arriving in Tobolsk, then founding the Altai Spiritual Mission. He devised an Altai alphabet, translated liturgical books, baptized hundreds, and established schools; his work laid groundwork for the Russian Bible translation. He reposed May 18, 1847, at Bolkhov Monastery, and was glorified among the venerable at the 2000 Jubilee Bishops' Council. Feast: May 18/31; Synaxis of Siberian Saints June 10/23.