18
June 373 A.D. Ephrem the Syrian Dies
This article cites his death as 9 Jun 373
A.D. compared to Christianity.com.
No author. “Ephrem the Syrian.” Christian
Classics Ethereal Library. N.d. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/ephraim.
Accessed 3 May 2014.
Summary
Ephrem the Syrian was a
Syriac and a prolific Syriac-language hymnographer and theologian of the 4th century.
His works are hailed by Christians throughout the world and many denominations
venerate him as a saint. He has been declared a Doctor of the Church in Roman
Catholicism. He is especially beloved in the Syriac Orthodox Church. Ephrem
wrote a wide variety of hymns, poems, and sermons in verse, as well as prose
biblical exegesis.
303,
Nusaybin
Nusaybin
June 9, 373,
Edessa,
Edessa,
Commentaries,
Criticism (interpretation), Early works, Hymns (Syriac), Hymns
Biography
Saint Ephraim was born
to wealthy parents in Nisibis (Mesopotamia) at the beginning of the fourth
century and brought up in the fear of the Lord. Because of his youthfulness, he
was of the opinion that everything happens by chance, but the following unpleasant
happening convinced him he was wrong. Once, the young Ephraim was accused of
stealing sheep, for which the judge sent him to jail even though he was
completely innocent. Finding himself in the dungeon and lamenting over what’s
happened, Ephraim once saw in a dream how he was being punished for other sins
that he truly committed. After a certain period, the judge found out about his
innocence and released him. Ephraim realized that peoples’ lives were not
directed by blind chance, but by Lord God. After this, Ephraim abandoned the
world and withdrew into the mountains with the recluses, where he became a
disciple of Saint James of Nisibis. Under his guidance, Ephraim changed and
became meek, penitent and committed to God.
James became a bishop
and made Ephraim his assistant. Later, Saint Ephraim went to Edessa and
withdrew into the mountains. Here he committed himself to a strict routine of
monastic ordeals and zealously studied the Word of God. God endowed Saint
Ephraim with the gift of teaching and he became renowned for his inspirational
sermons. He labored intensely in expounding the Holy Scripture and enunciating
Orthodox teachings. At the close of his life, he visited the great Holy Fathers
of the Nitria desert (in Egypt) as well as Caesarea in Cappadocia, where he met
Saint Basil the Great. Upon returning to Edessa, he fell ill and peacefully
died in the year 373.
No comments:
Post a Comment