Ephrem the Syrian, or Ephrem the Syrian, or Ephrem of Nisibis, or Ephrem of Edessa, nicknamed “the lyre of the Holy Spirit,” is the most prominent Syriac-speaking father of the Orthodox Church and the greatest church poet in Syriac literature. Ephrem was born around the year 306 in the city of Nisibis in Mesopotamia. We do not know anything about his family, as some confirm that it was Christian, while others exclude this, confirming that his father was a pagan priest and that Ephrem converted to Christianity as a young man and became a disciple of Jacob, the bishop of his city, and gained from his knowledge and companionship.
Jacob ordained him an evangelical deacon, and he spent his entire life as a deacon, preaching, teaching, and singing the most wonderful hymns and religious poetry. He left Nisibis after it fell into the hands of the Persians in the year 363 and lived in Edessa (Odessa in Greek or Urfa) until his death in the year 373, which was an important Christian and cultural center, as the Greek and Syriac cultures met there. In Edessa, he served the church as a deacon, a preacher who interpreted the Holy Bible, a theologian who fought heretics, a poet who composed spiritual hymns, and a solitary ascetic when he had the opportunity. Ephrem died after contracting the epidemic that ravaged the people of the Edessa region. The church celebrates his memory on January 28.
His most important works are, without a doubt, the many spiritual hymns and chants he composed. In this regard, it is difficult to cover all of Ephrem’s works and distinguish what is authentic from what is attributed to him. It is worth noting that there are two main types of poetry in Syriac: the meme and the midrash. The meme is a poem that is read but not chanted, and its verses come in a single pattern of stanzas. The verses of the meme may reach thousands of verses, so the meme can carry diverse educational material. As for the midrash, it is a poem that is chanted and its verses are limited. Ephrem excelled in both types, and in his meme and midrash he was the tongue of the Orthodox faith.
Ephrem’s proven poems and hymns include: 65 Midrash “Against Heresies” in which the author attacked the delusions of astrologers (whose deceptions are still being pursued by the people of the twenty-first century) and some heretics; 78 hymns “On Faith” in which he attacked the Arians who denied the divinity of Christ, including 51 hymns on Paradise in which he sings of the splendor of heaven; 12 hymns “On Unleavened Bread” in which he celebrates the sufferings and resurrection of Christ; 25 hymns “On the Church” and 15 hymns “On Virginity,” and others on the crucifixion and fasting.
Saint Ephrem is famous for being the author of the prayer of repentance that accompanies us in all the prayers of Lent. Because of its importance, we quote it in full:
“O Lord and Master of my life, free me from the spirit of idleness and curiosity, the love of authority and idle talk, and grant me, your sinful servant, the spirit of chastity, humility of mind, patience and love. Yes, my King and God, grant me to know my sins and faults, and not to judge my brothers, for you are blessed forever, Amen.”
This prayer, after the “Our Father,” is a model prayer, as it sums up everything that the believer can pray and ask of God. Saint Ephrem requested in his will: “Thirty days after my death, you offer the Holy Sacrifice for me, because the dead benefit from the sacrifices offered by the living.” The Mass unites the dead and the living, as there are no dead in Christ. Through the intercessions of Saint Ephrem, who is alive with you, O Lord Jesus, have mercy on us and save us.
Ephrem’s hymns were not only rich in poetic imagery, but were also profound in theology and doctrine. For example, he says that paradise was restored to humanity in the Church, which is more splendid and more beautiful than the Garden of Eden, of which it was only an image: “On the one hand, God planted the splendid paradise, and on the other hand, he built the pure Church.” Ephrem sang to Christ as the new Adam who reopened paradise, saying: “Blessed is he who opened paradise by his cross” and “Blessed is he who made Adam glad,” and also: “Blessed is he who freed us lest his likeness should be taken captive” and “Blessed is he who delivered us from captivity.” He also said: “Blessed is he who opened with his keys the paradise of life.” The Church celebrates him on the twenty-eighth of January.
Troparion
For the barren wilderness you fed with the streams of your tears, and with the sighs from the depths you bore fruit with your labors a hundredfold. You became a star for the inhabited world, shining with wonders, O our righteous father Ephraim, so intercede with Christ God to save our souls.
