Saint Ephraim the Syrian
On the 15th of Abib, the 22nd of July, our church commemorates our venerable father, St. Ephraim the Syrian (c. 306 – 373). He was born in the city of Nissibis in Mesopotamia, at the beginning of the fourth century (around the year 306 AD). Certain sources maintain that he was born form Christian parents, while other sources hold that he was born from pagan parents, and later was converted by St. James of Nissibis. The sources that hold his pagan history indicate that St. James also baptized St. Ephraim, and Ephraim remained with him.
Ephraim won the respect of other members of the clergy, along with the love of Bishop James. The bishop’s treasurer was named Ephraim as well. Ephraim the treasurer had a secret relationship with the daughter of a very respected man in Nissibis, so he instructed his parter to blame the conception of the baby on Saint Ephraim. The young woman followed the treasurer’s deceptive plan, and the rumor spread throughout. When it reached the parents’ ears, the accusation was blamed on the bishop’s disciple before the hierarch. Ephraim, who had been taught through his past not to argue against the providence of God, Who permits temptations for the salvation of men’s souls, fell at the bishop’s feet, saying, “Father, I have sinned!” One day, on Saint Ephraim’s way to church, he took up the baby, held him in front of all the people, asking him to reveal the truth, confessing his biological father. The miracle occurred: The baby confessed three times, “Ephraim, the treasurer of the church,” and then the baby died. The glory of Saint Ephraim spread, and all the perjurers begged forgiveness.
St. Ephraim excelled in his worship, and he began debating pagans. He attended the council of Nicea with St. James. St. Ephraim was known to spend his free time (after prayer and work) in debating with the pagans; however, one time the pious elder Julian asked him “why is it that thou, who art a Christian, dost permit thyself to remain amid this mob of pagans? Or is it thine intention to live in the world?” Once the Saint heard this, his reply strongly held that monasticism was his sole desire, and he went to a wild mountain near Edessa to start his ascetic struggles.
God opened the eyes of St. Ephraim to see a pillar of light stretching from heaven to earth. As he was wondering about this, a voice said to him that it was St. Basil, Bishop of Caesaria. St. Ephraim went to see him, and he found him dressed in priestly vestments; however, he doubted the holiness of St. Basil. God opened St. Basil’s eyes to see a dove on the head of St. Basil, and St. Basil–through divine inspiration–was aware of St. Ephraim’s presence. St. Basil greeted him, calling out his name, which surprised St. Ephraim. Later, St. Basil ordained St. Ephraim a deacon.
St. Ephraim increased in his asceticism, and God used him as a way for many miracles to take place. A famous story narrates that a woman was too ashamed to confess her sins, so she wrote them down on a piece of paper, took them to St. Basil, who prayed for her, and they were all disappeared from the paper except one. St. Basil told her to go to St. Ephraim to pray for that last one. When she arrived to St. Ephraim’s place in the wilderness, he told her that he was not worthy, and he asked her to go back to St. Basil to pray for her, urging her to hurry, so that she may meet him before his departure; however, when she arrived he had passed away, so she threw the paper on his coffin, prayed, and when she took it back that sin was erased from the paper. His body remained incorrupt, and his works–which are many–that were inspired by the Holy Spirit remain to this day.
St Ephrem is famous for his poetical hymns, especially those relating to the Annunciation, Nativity, and Holy Theotokos. He wrote a famous commentary on Tatian’s Diatessaron, the Book of Daniel, and the Pauline Epistles. Oftentimes he quoted the Peshitta translation, which is among the earliest manuscripts of the Old Testament today. His writings well represent the Syrian patristic tradition. You may find more of his works in A Spiritual Psalter (Reflections on God) excerpted by Bishop Theophan the Recluse.