St Ephraem of Syria (306-373): composer of hymns
Early life
Born at Nisibis, which is today in
eastern Turkey near its border with Syria. At that time it was part of
the Roman province of Mesopotamia.
He was baptised at the age of
eighteen and became a pupil of Bishop James of Nisibis, and probably
accompanied him to the Council of Nicaea (325).
Christian teacher at Nisibis
Back home, James
appointed Ephraim a teacher at Nisibis. He began composing hymns and to
write biblical commentaries.
His hymns were later incorporated into the
liturgy. He became head of the school of Nisibis and was certainly
ordained a deacon, if not a priest.
At Edessa
After the death of Constantine in 337
Nisibis was frequently attacked by the Persians and many of Ephraem's
hymns reflect this. He eventually had to move as a refugee to Edessa
(363) - also in eastern Turkey - where he continued his work as a
teacher.
Because the city became the centre of so many rival
philosophies and theologies, Ephraem continued his hymn-writing in
defence of the true Nicene doctrine on the divinity and humanity of
Jesus.
A "member of the covenant"
Although he is
sometimes described as a monk, it is more likely that both at Nisibis
and at Edessa Ephraim was one of a close-knit community of Christians
called the "members of the covenant", who had committed themselves to
service of the Church and sexual abstinence.
In 370 he visited Basil who was bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia
(central Turkey).
According to Basil's brother, Gregory of Nyssa, Basil
is said to have greeted him with the words, "Are you Ephraem, who
follows the way of salvation so well?"
To which Ephraem replied, "I am
Ephraem, who walks unworthily in the way of salvation."
Fair distribution during the famine
A famine hit
Edessa in 372. Ephrem was horrified to learn that some citizens were
hoarding food.
When he confronted them, he received the age-old excuse
that they couldn't find a fair way or honest person to distribute the
food. Ephrem volunteered himself and no one objected.
He and his
helpers worked diligently to get food to the needy in the city and the
surrounding area.
The power of hymns
According to tradition, Ephrem
began to write hymns in order to counteract the heresies that were
rampant during his time, having already heard the heretical ideas put
into song first. He especially the unity of the humanity and the
divinity in the person of Jesus.
The originality, imagery, and skill of
his hymns captured the hearts of the Christians so powerfully that
Ephrem is given credit for awakening the Church to the importance of
music and poetry in spreading and fortifying the faith.
Many of his
hymns are still used in the Orthodox liturgy.
Death and veneration
June 9, 373 is accepted by many as the date of his death. Pope Benedict XV declared him a doctor of the Church in 1920.
Prayer
Saint Ephrem, sometimes we treat the power of song lightly.
Help us to open our hearts and souls to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit
given us through music.
Help us to open our hearts and souls to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit
given us through music.
Amen