St. Ephrem
St. Ephrem
St. Ephrem was born in 306, and he died on June 9, 373. He is also known as Ephrem of Edessa or Aprem of Nisibis. He was born in Nisibis, modern-day Turkey, and later lived in Edessa. His parents were part of a growing Christian community, although some hagiographers wrote that his father was a pagan priest.
Road to the Covenant
St. Ephrem grew up during the time when Jacob had been appointed as the second bishop of Nisibis. He was baptized as a youth and became a son of the covenant, which is an unusual form of Syriac proto-monasticism. Jacob also appointed St. Ephrem as a teacher, a title with great respect for Syrian Christians.
His Works
St. Ephrem served as a deacon, and he was also a writer and theologian who was very prominent in his field. He is also one of the most notable hymn composers in Eastern Christianity. He also wrote poems and sermons, all of which were part of his educational office. In his hymns, he usually referred to himself as a herdsman, and to the bishop, he referred to himself as the shepherd. Besides all this, St. Ephrem had the ability to critically explain religious texts. These texts were works of practical theology for the edification of the Church in troubled times.
In 350, St. Ephrem wrote a hymn in which he celebrated the miraculous salvation of Nisibis after Shapur had rerouted the river Mygdonius in an attempt to undermine the walls of Nisibis. However, the Nisibenes were able to quickly repair the walls, hence the celebration. In the hymn, he portrayed himself as a being like Noah’s ark floating safely on the flood.
In 363, Shapur attacked again, and Jovian, who was now the new Emperor, surrendered Nisibis to Persia, permitting the expulsion of the entire Christian community. During this time, Ephrem went to Amida and then to Edessa, where he finally settled. He applied himself to the church of Edessa and continued his work as a teacher. This city was rich with rival philosophies and religions.
There was a time of great confusion when various gnostic sects proclaimed themselves as the true church, and Christians were now called Palutians. St. Ephrem then wrote a number of hymns defending the church.
His Writings
In all his writings, St. Ephrem wrote exclusively in his native Aramaic, using the local Edessan dialect. In his writings, he also referred to his native homeland and people, the Aramites. Over four hundred hymns written by St. Ephrem are still in existence, and he is accredited for having written more than three million lines; therefore, his productivity is not in doubt. St. Ephrem’s writings also contain a wide variety of symbols and metaphors.
The most important of his works are his hymns, which are full of rich poetic imagery drawn from biblical sources and other religions and philosophies. Most of his hymns are also said to have been sung by all-female choirs. Some of his most influential works were his hymns against heresies that threatened to divide the early church. All this made him a popular inspiration throughout the church.
St. Ephrem also preached of his great concern, which was the coming of the Antichrist. As indicated in his sermon on the antichrist, the antichrist was to persecute the church, and he believed that the world was ending soon as all the signs had been fulfilled by the fall of the Roman Empire.
His Death
St. Ephrem succumbed to a plague on the 9th of June while ministering to its victims. He was in his sixties by then, and it was after a ten-year stay in Edessa. At the time of his death, St. Ephrem had been an active member both in his church community and outside it.
Legacy
- He is also referred to as the Deacon of Edessa or the Sun of the
Syrians and a Pillar of the Church
5 Interesting Facts About St. Ephrem
- He is venerated as a saint by all traditional churches, especially
revered in Syriac Christianity. - He is a sainted monk.
- St. Ephrem’s work was so popular that for centuries after his
death, Christian authors wrote their works and falsely attributed them.
to him. - St. Ephrem is accredited as the founder of the school of Nisibis.
which was the center of learning in the Church of the East. - St. Ephrem is known as the authentic voice of Aramaic.
Christianity.
Prayer to St. Ephrem
O Lord and Master of my life, a spirit of idleness, curiosity, ambition,and idle talking, give me not. But a spirit of chastity, patience, and love, bestow upon me, Thy servant. Yea, O Lord King, grant me to see my own failings and not to condemn others; for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen
