The Monk Ephraim the Syrian (IV century) was born in the ancient Mesopotamian city of Nisibin and, having accepted monasticism, became famous for the height of his spiritual life. The works of Saint Ephraim were translated into other languages during his lifetime and were even read in churches after the Holy Scriptures. The reading of the prayerful writings of St. Ephraim is essential and salvific for the Orthodox soul.

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St. Ephraim the Syrian. Creation. Volume 1 Publishing house of Prp. Maximus the Confessor Barnaul 2005 Proofreading: Dmitry Panferov.

St. Ephraim the Syrian

Creation

Volume 1

© Publishing house of Prp. Maxim the Confessor, Barnaul, 2005

The Life and Works of St. Ephraim the Syrian[1]

The Monk Ephraim the Syrian [2] was probably born in the first years of the fourth century [3], in Nisibis, the main city of the northeastern part of Mesopotamia, or in its environs. His ancestors, as he himself testifies, were beggars who lived on alms; grandfathers had already become farmers and lived in prosperity; his parents were also farmers and were related to non-noble city dwellers [4]. But the ignobility of the family was rewarded by Christian virtues and the parents' care for the upbringing of their son in the fear of God. The Monk Ephraim himself speaks of the years of his youth: "I was already a partaker of grace — from the fathers I received instruction about Christ. Those who begat me according to the flesh inspired me with the fear of the Lord. I have seen neighbors living in piety, I have heard of many who suffered for Christ; the fathers confessed Him before the judge in my presence, I am a relative of the martyrs" [5].

Even in the first years of Ephraim's life, God showed the future greatness of the child in a significant vision, or dream, as a result of which, perhaps, he was called Ephraim, that is, fruitful. It was discovered that on the tongue of the child grew a vine tree, which at last grew so large that it covered the whole earth with its branches, and was so fruitful that the more the birds fed on its fruit, the more the fruit multiplied [6].