Ephraim the Syrian
Reading from the Synaxarion:
Saint Ephraim was born in Nisibis of Mesopotamia some time about the
year 306, and in his youth was the disciple of Saint James, Bishop of
Nisibis, one of the 318 Fathers at the First Ecumenical Council. Ephraim
lived in Nisibis, practicing a severe ascetical life and increasing in
holiness, until 363, the year in which Julian the Apostate was slain in his
war against the Persians, and his successor Jovian surrendered
Nisibis to them. Ephraim then made his dwelling in Edessa, where he
found many heresies to do battle with. He waged an especial war
against Bardaisan; this gnostic had written many hymns propagating his
errors, which by their sweet melodies became popular and enticed souls
away from the truth. Saint Ephraim, having received from God a
singular gift of eloquence, turned Bardaisan's own weapon against him, and
wrote a multitude of hymns to be chanted by choirs of women, which set
forth the true doctrines, refuted heretical error, and praised the
contests of the Martyrs.
Of the multitude of sermons, commentaries, and hymns that Saint
Ephraim wrote, many were translated into Greek in his own lifetime.
Sozomen says that Ephraim "Surpassed the most approved writers of
Greece," observing that the Greek writings, when translated into other
tongues, lose most of their original beauty, but Ephraim's works "are no
less admired when read in Greek than when read in Syriac" (Eccl.
Hist., Book 111, 16). Saint Ephraim was ordained deacon, some say by
Saint Basil the Great, whom Sozomen said "was a great admirer of
Ephraim, and was astonished at his erudition." Saint Ephraim was the
first to make the poetic expression of hymnody and song a vehicle of
Orthodox theological teachings, constituting it an integral part of the
Church's worship; he may rightly be called the first and greatest
hymnographer of the Church, who set the pattern for these who followed him,
especially Saint Romanos the Melodist. Because of this he is called the
"Harp of the Holy Spirit." Jerome says that his writings were read in
some churches after the reading of the Scriptures, and adds that once
he read a Greek translation of one of Ephraim's works, "and
recognized, even in translation, the incisive power of his lofty genius" (De
vir. ill., ch. CXV).
Shortly before the end of his life, a famine broke out in Edessa, and
Saint Ephraim left his cell to rebuke the rich for not sharing their
goods with the poor. The rich answered that they knew no one to whom
they could entrust their goods. Ephraim asked them, "What do you
think of me?" When they confessed their reverence for him, he offered
to distribute their alms, to which they agreed. He himself cared
with his own hands for many of the sick from the famine, and so
crowned his life with mercy and love for neighbor. Saint Ephraim reposed
in peace, according to some in the year 373, according to others,
379.
Reading from the Synaxarion:
Saint Ephraim was born in Nisibis of Mesopotamia some time about the
year 306, and in his youth was the disciple of Saint James, Bishop of
Nisibis, one of the 318 Fathers at the First Ecumenical Council. Ephraim
lived in Nisibis, practicing a severe ascetical life and increasing in
holiness, until 363, the year in which Julian the Apostate was slain in his
war against the Persians, and his successor Jovian surrendered
Nisibis to them. Ephraim then made his dwelling in Edessa, where he
found many heresies to do battle with. He waged an especial war
against Bardaisan; this gnostic had written many hymns propagating his
errors, which by their sweet melodies became popular and enticed souls
away from the truth. Saint Ephraim, having received from God a
singular gift of eloquence, turned Bardaisan's own weapon against him, and
wrote a multitude of hymns to be chanted by choirs of women, which set
forth the true doctrines, refuted heretical error, and praised the
contests of the Martyrs.
Of the multitude of sermons, commentaries, and hymns that Saint
Ephraim wrote, many were translated into Greek in his own lifetime.
Sozomen says that Ephraim "Surpassed the most approved writers of
Greece," observing that the Greek writings, when translated into other
tongues, lose most of their original beauty, but Ephraim's works "are no
less admired when read in Greek than when read in Syriac" (Eccl.
Hist., Book 111, 16). Saint Ephraim was ordained deacon, some say by
Saint Basil the Great, whom Sozomen said "was a great admirer of
Ephraim, and was astonished at his erudition." Saint Ephraim was the
first to make the poetic expression of hymnody and song a vehicle of
Orthodox theological teachings, constituting it an integral part of the
Church's worship; he may rightly be called the first and greatest
hymnographer of the Church, who set the pattern for these who followed him,
especially Saint Romanos the Melodist. Because of this he is called the
"Harp of the Holy Spirit." Jerome says that his writings were read in
some churches after the reading of the Scriptures, and adds that once
he read a Greek translation of one of Ephraim's works, "and
recognized, even in translation, the incisive power of his lofty genius" (De
vir. ill., ch. CXV).
Shortly before the end of his life, a famine broke out in Edessa, and
Saint Ephraim left his cell to rebuke the rich for not sharing their
goods with the poor. The rich answered that they knew no one to whom
they could entrust their goods. Ephraim asked them, "What do you
think of me?" When they confessed their reverence for him, he offered
to distribute their alms, to which they agreed. He himself cared
with his own hands for many of the sick from the famine, and so
crowned his life with mercy and love for neighbor. Saint Ephraim reposed
in peace, according to some in the year 373, according to others,
379.
