🌿Febuary 10/January 28 - Commemorating St. Ephraim the Syrian

St. Ephraim, who through his lofty teachings earned the name of Syrian prophet and teacher, was born at the beginning of the Fourth Century in Nisibis, Mesopotamia of rather poor farmer parents, who were distinguished for their Christian virtues and nurtured their son in the awe of God.

But the youthful years of Ephraim did not pass without some passion and stumbling. Impetuous by nature he was irritable and in his youth as he himself said quite often quarreled and even foolishly doubted the Providence of God. Having been falsely accused of stealing sheep he was imprisoned. Here Ephraim was worthy to hear a voice calling him to piety. Acquitted by the court and released from prison and seeing in this the hand of God wisely ruling the world, he abandoned the idea about the situation controlled by man and learned that "there is an Eye, observing all things" and punishing any crime.

Returning home, he abandoned the world and settled in the mountains to be with James of Nisibis (see Jan. 13). Under the direction of James he practiced the strict asceticism of piety and fervently studied the Holy Scriptures. For his pious, truly ascetical life all the citizens of Nisibis greatly respected him and lovingly looked upon him as a saint.

Slandered with heavy sin by the envy of one of his namesakes, he voluntarily took up the heavy fault. But when rumors about this led people into powerful temptation, the venerable one, with the help of God to end the temptation, wonderfully planted the heavy charge hanging over him and after this they began to relate to him with even greater love and respect.

After the Persians captured Nisibis in 363, he abandoned it. Having settled on a certain mountain in the city of Edessa [Urfa], he led a strict ascetic life and continued to be occupied in studying the Holy Scriptures. Crowds of people soon started to flow to his solitary cave, desiring to receive instruction from him. St. Ephraim taught the people faith and piety, both orally and in writing, and soon with great success he opened a school, from which subsequently came famous teachers of the Syrian Church. He convinced his hearers to lead a moral life and strictly condemned the false teachers then roiling Christian society. Hearing the preaching of the holy ascetic, many of the Syrian pagans converted to Christianity.

Towards the end of his life St. Ephraim traveled to Egypt, visited St. Basil the Great in Caesarea who ordained him a deacon. Later St. Basil the Great wanted to consecrate him a bishop, but humble Ephraim rejected this dignity and peacefully died as a deacon in 373 in Edessa [Urfa].

God has glorified Ven. Ephraim with the gift of working wonders. Released from all terrestrial attachments, surrendering to continual prayer, fasting, vigils, meditation on God, disinterestedness, charity and serving neighbors, extraordinary humble ascetic, zealous and subtle exposer of heretics, tireless and thoughtful commentator on Holy Scripture, sincere and skilful hymnographer, rare expert on the heart of man and most fervent preacher of repentance and moral renewal, Ven. Ephraim really contained in himself, in the words of St. Gregory the Theologian, all those distinctive marks of a person in God.

St. Ephraim left many works, doctrinal, commentarial, polemical and moral and they are as various, deep and instructive as any of the works of the ecumenical Fathers of the Greek Church. Best of all he wrote about the destruction of the intimate, about the necessity to continually shed tears of repentance. Knowledge of the spiritual nature of man in the way of constant self-deepening, condescending love for the fallen, infirm person, acquired from the knowledge of his own infirmities and from reflection about the great love of the Redeemer for the people, fervor and burning inspiration glistens in each teaching of the teacher-ascetic. These are the qualities encouraging special appeal to his moral teaching, irresistibly working directly on the heart and will of the reader. The teaching of St. Ephraim shocks and afflicts the soul with fear, but at the same time also calms it, filling it with tenderness and forcing it to shed tears. St. Ephraim left many touching prayers and prayerful hymns. By the way, the deeply touching stichera sung during the Burial Service belong to him. Among the prayers he composed is the especially famous tenderly touching prayer read during the days of the Great Fast: "O Lord and Master of my life".

Troparion — Tone 8

By a flood of tears you made the desert fertile, / and your longing for God brought forth fruits in abundance. / By the radiance of miracles you illumined the whole universe! / Our Father Ephraim, pray to Christ God to save our souls!

Kontakion — Tone 2

Ever anticipating the hour of Judgment, / you lamented bitterly, venerable Ephraim. / Through your deeds you were a teacher by example; / therefore, universal Father, you rouse the slothful to repentance.


Prayer to St. Ephrem the Syrian

Our Father St. Ephraim, the favored one of Christ! Bring our prayer to the merciful and omnipotent God, and ask us, servants of God (names), in His goodness for all that is good for our souls and bodies, for faith, for righteousness, hope without doubts, love without hypocrisy, meekness and kindness, courage in temptation, patience in suffering, and excellence in piety, so that we may not turn the gifts of the Almighty God to evil. Do not forget, O holy wonderworker, this holy temple (house) and our parish: preserve and guard them with thy prayers from all evil. O holy one of God, grant us a good end and the Kingdom of Heaven, that we may glorify God, who is so marvelous in His saints, to whom be all glory, honor and power, forever and ever. Amen.