E06067: Gennadius of Marseille, in his De viris illustribus ('On distinguished men'), states that *Makarios ('the Egyptian', monastic founder in the Sketis, ob. 391, S00863), and *Euagrios of Pontus (ascetic in Egypt, ob. 399, S01418) performed miracles. Written in Latin at Marseille (southern Gaul), c. 468.

Gennadius, De viris illustribus 10-11

Gennadius begins his entry on Makarios (vir. ill. 10) as follows:

Macarius, monachus ille Aegyptius, signis et virtutibus clarus, unam tantum Ad iuniores professionis suae scripsit epistulam ...

'Macarius the Egyptian monk, celebrated for signs and miracles, wrote only one letter, To the juniors of his profession [...]'

Gennadius then summarises the content of the letter. There is no further reference to miracles.


The following entry (11), on Evagrius Ponticus, is one of the longest in De viris illustribus.The entry begins:

Evagrius monachus supradicti Macarii familiaris discipulus, divina et humana litteratura instructus atque insignis, cuius etiam liber, qui adtitulatur Vita patrum, velut continentissimi et eruditissimi viri mentionem facit, scripsit multa monachis necessaria, e quibus ista sunt ...

'Evagrius the monk, friend and disciple of the above-mentioned Macarius, learned and celebrated in divine and secular literature, whose book which is called Life of the Fathers, mentions him [Macarius] as a most learned and erudite man, wrote many things necessary for monks, from which are these [...]'

The entry goes on to summarise at length Evagrius' monastic works, some of which Gennadius claims to have translated into Latin (these translations do not survive). He concludes the entry with the statement:

Vixit longa aetate signis et virtutibus pollens.

'He lived to a great age, powerful in signs and miracles.'

This is the only reference in the entry to Evagrius' miracles. No details are given.


Text: Richardson 1896. Summary and translation: David Lambert.