St. Ephraim the Syrian’s Glorification | تمجيد مارافرام السريانى

A unique exemplar among the holy men, called by the Syrians “The Lyre of the Holy Spirit,” he offered the Church countless spiritual hymns, which carried, along with the purity of steadfast faith, a spirit of worship, edification, and fervent love combined with sweetness and beauty of style. His life as a whole was a magnificent symphony, illustrating strict asceticism with care for the poor, firmness in doctrine and Church teachings, and great humility.
His Youth:
He was born around 306 A.D. in the city of Nisibis, one of the lands of Mesopotamia (Roman Mesopotamia). His parents were Christians, as he said: “I was born on the path of truth, though in my youth I did not yet understand the greatness of truth, but I came to know it through experience,” and he also said: “My parents were witnesses before the judge; indeed I am near to the martyrs.”
He attached himself to Saint Jacob, Bishop of Nisibis (the second bishop of Nisibis), and it is said that he accompanied him to the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. After the death of Saint Jacob, Ephrem remained close to the three bishops who succeeded him, possibly as head of the school affiliated with the see.
First Trial:
Signs of pregnancy appeared on the virgin daughter of a city chief. When asked who had wronged her, she pointed to Saint Ephrem. Humbly, he said before the bishop: “I have erred, father…” which greatly shocked the people and caused a serious commotion. When Ephrem took the child to raise him, many were troubled because of him. He asked permission from the bishop to go to the altar after the Sunday liturgy, carrying the child with his right hand to the altar, and cried before everyone: “Child, I entreat you before the altar of God: tell me the truth—who is your father?” The child spoke: “Ephrem Qandalfat” (the one tasked with lighting the church lamps), and the people wept and asked for his forgiveness… and the child passed away in that hour.
Leaving Nisibis:
He lived through three sieges of the city by the Persians during 238–350 A.D., until it was finally handed over under a peace treaty between Shapur II of Persia and Jovian. All Christians had to leave, including Saint Ephrem, who went to Edessa.
On his way, he met a sinful woman staring at him intensely. He said: “Woman, do you not shame to gaze at me like this?” She replied: “A woman is taken from man, so she has the right to look into her origin; a man is taken from the dust, so he must look into his origin from which he was taken.”
He said to himself: “If the women of this city are so wise, how wise must the men be?”
Life in Edessa:
It is said he engaged in simple work, spending the rest of his time preaching to the pagans and teaching them the Holy Scriptures, as most of the inhabitants were pagans.
Satan stirred an evil woman living near him. He asked if she needed anything. He replied: “I need two bricks and some clay to channel the power between you and me.” The woman was angered by his blunt words and threatened to accuse him if he did not comply. He feigned agreement but insisted they carry it out in the city market. When she asked, “How can we do this with people around?” he said: “If you shame before people, will you not shame before God, who has set you to pierce the veil of darkness?” She was deeply moved, repented, and later joined a monastery.
Soon after, Saint Ephrem dwelled in one of the caves of Mount Edessa, on a rocky hill now called Nimrud Dagh, where he devoted himself to worship and studying the Scriptures.
It is said that a hermit named Ephrem stood outside his cave on the mountain and saw an angel descending from heaven with a large two-faced tablet, surrounded by other angels, and heard him say: “To whom shall I give this that is in my hand?” The angels replied: “To Auchin, the hermit from the desert of Egypt.” Then he asked: “Who deserves it?” They said: “Julian the hermit.” Then he said: “There is no one among the humans of this age who deserves it except Ephrem the Syrian of Mount Edessa.” The hermit was at first skeptical, but when he visited Ephrem in his cave and saw him writing a commentary on Genesis, he was amazed by the gift God had given him. He took the commentary to the school of Edessa and presented it to the scholars, who admired it. They wanted to honor him, but Ephrem fled into a valley.
Entering Public Work:
The angel of the Lord appeared and commanded him not to flee from work. Humbly, he descended to the city and stayed in one of the towers of the Edessa walls. In the morning, the believers were angry because he had fled previously, and now came voluntarily; some considered him a show-off, and others called him mad. He ignored praise or blame, teaching and preaching in the marketplace.
Because of his earnest preaching and upright faith, some city leaders, heretics, Jews, and pagans attacked him, even beating him, forcing him to flee to his cave, dedicating his time to writing against heresies. The cave became a school on the mountain, hosting many disciples.
In the Egyptian Scetis:
Saint Ephrem saw Saint Basil the Great, resembling a pillar of fire descending from heaven, and desired to meet him. Taking a translator, he traveled to Egypt and stayed there for about eight years. His tree still exists at the Syriac Monastery. Due to his extreme asceticism, he leaned on a staff, and some thought he was boasting like the elders. He planted his staff in the ground, and it immediately sprouted and grew.
Meeting Saint Basil:
Around 371 A.D., he went to Caesarea and attended the Feast of Theophany in his tattered clothes. Saint Basil at first despised him because of his ragged attire, but when Basil began preaching, he saw what seemed like fiery tongues coming from him to the hearts of the listeners, like a speaking dove, and changed his mind.
Two angels surrounded Ephrem, and Saint Basil sent for him after the sermon, but Ephrem requested to meet after communion. They met in brotherly embrace. Basil privately asked why he doubted, showing him that the inner vestments he wore were pure, saying: “The outer tattered garments are only for the dignity of service.”
The visit lasted two weeks. Basil tried to ordain him as a priest, but he barely accepted ordination as a deacon, greatly impressed by Ephrem’s personality and teachings.
Return to Edessa:
He returned to Edessa to resist heresies. When he saw someone compose 150 hymns with false doctrines, he wrote 150 hymns with the same melody, proper faith, and beauty, replacing the erroneous ones.
After the heresy calmed, he returned to his cave until a severe famine struck in winter 372/373 A.D. He went into the city, urging the rich to give. He managed a house with 300 beds for the sick during the famine, serving the needy with his assistants. He did not return to his cave until the famine ended.
On June 9 (373 A.D.), he gave up his pure soul, leaving this testament in verse:
“Do not place me under the altar of God, for it is not fitting for a corrupt corpse to lie in the holy place.
Do not place my body with the martyrs, for I am sinful and unworthy, and I fear to approach their bones. Do not wrap me with incense and perfumes, for I am unworthy of them; rather, offer incense in the holy places. As for me, support me with your prayers. Instead of perfumes and oils, remember me in your supplications…
I have vowed to the Lord to be buried with strangers, for I am a stranger as they were. Place me, brothers, with them, for every bird loves its kind, and man loves his like. Place me in the cemetery with the broken of heart, until the Son of God comes to embrace me and raise me with Him.”
The Church commemorates him on the 15th of Abib.
His Literary Contribution:
He enriched the Christian library with works in verse and prose, numbering over three million lines, including commentaries on all Scriptures, subjects of religious debate, some articles and letters, hymns, and psalms—some of which have been lost.
His Attractive Personality:
Although he sometimes feigned madness to avoid episcopal ordination when Saint Basil attempted to ordain him as a bishop, and although his tears never ceased, Saint Gregory of Nyssa considered them natural, like breathing in human life, his extraordinary love for the poor, care, and spiritual fullness gave him an astonishing charisma. Saint Gregory of Nyssa even said he resembled angels, who have no physical body or worldly cares in their lives!
He is commemorated on June 18.

إذا أحببت، أستطيع الآن تجهيز نسخة مختصرة جدًا باللغة الإنجليزية تصلح للبطاقات التعليمية أو لملاحظات سريعة عن القديس. تريد أن أفعل ذلك؟