Saint Ephraim the Syrian

c. 306–373 · 4th c. · 1 work

Saint Ephraim the Syrian (c. 306–373) was a fourth-century Syriac deacon, hymnographer, and teacher of the early Church. Writing entirely in Syriac, he became the foremost Christian poet of the patristic age and was later honored as a Doctor of the Church, gaining the byname “Harp of the Holy Spirit” for the abundance and beauty of his sacred verse.

Born at Nisibis in Mesopotamia, he served the Church there as a disciple and deacon under Bishop James of Nisibis. After Nisibis was ceded to Persia in 363 he settled at Edessa, where he taught, ministered to the poor, and organized famine relief; he remained a deacon throughout his life, declining higher office.

His enormous output comprises metrical hymns (madrashe) and verse homilies (memre) on faith, the Nativity, paradise, and the refutation of heresies, alongside biblical commentaries. His penitential prayer, beginning “O Lord and Master of my life,” is recited throughout Great Lent in the Orthodox Church.

He died at Edessa in 373. He is venerated as a saint, and the Orthodox Church commemorates him on 28 January.

Sources: Orthodox Church in America — Venerable Ephraim the Syrian · Encyclopædia Britannica — St. Ephraem Syrus