Saint Ephrem was likely born in the year 306 in what is now Turkey, in the city of Nisibis (also known as Nusaybin today), located in southeastern Turkey.
Gaudium Press – June 9, 2025 – Today the Church celebrates, among other saints, Saint Ephrem: deacon, Doctor of the Church, and poet, who was called the “Harp of the Holy Spirit” and also the “Poet of the Virgin,” as many of his compositions are dedicated to praising the Mother of God.
It is said that Saint Ephrem once had a dream in which a vine grew out of his tongue, spreading across many regions and producing beautiful clusters of rich fruit—clearly a prophecy of the noble mission he would later fulfill on earth.
His father was a pagan priest who opposed the Christian education given to him by his mother. Ephrem was baptized at the age of 18, and he moved to Edessa, where he supported himself through manual labor. In 338, his hometown was attacked by the Persians; he went to its defense, but the city was eventually conquered. He returned to Edessa, located in the south of Turkey, slightly more to the west.
Transmitter of Ancient Christian Doctrine
There, he gathered followers and founded a theological school with them.
Since he did not speak Greek, his writings were untouched by the Trinitarian theological debates of his time. Instead, he focused solely on conveying the ancient Christian faith, using poetry as his preferred method.
His devout poems served a didactic purpose (teaching) or were exhortative (encouraging the practice of virtue). They were often suitable for singing, and in fact, he played a major role in introducing hymns into Catholic liturgical celebrations. His poems had a popular appeal that led to their widespread dissemination. They were carefully translated into Greek, helping them reach a broader audience.
Even in his homilies, Saint Ephrem often recited poetry rather than delivering traditional theological sermons. His preaching was known to be profoundly moving. His deep knowledge of Sacred Scripture served as the foundation for his poetic and homiletic works.
Saint Basil wrote that Ephrem’s writings were so cherished that many churches would read one of his texts after proclaiming the Word of God. Heretics reportedly complained that Saint Ephrem’s hymns drew so many faithful to the Church that the temples of their sects were left empty.
A Charitable Man, Devoted to the Virgin Mary
In 370, during a major famine, Saint Ephrem organized a team to distribute food to those most in need, along with a group of 300 stretcher-bearers to transport the sick to places where they could receive care. This effort greatly endeared him to the people.
He composed 20 hymns to the Virgin Mary, filled with the most tender and filial devotion. He called her “more radiant than the sun, the reconciler of heaven and earth, peace, joy, and salvation of the world, crown of virgins, all pure, immaculate, incorrupt, most blessed, inviolate, venerable, honorable…” More than 77 hymns of his are preserved in total.
He never became a priest, out of humility, and chose to remain a deacon.
Saint Ephrem died in the year 373.
Below is a Marian prayer—truly poetic—written by Saint Ephrem:
“My most holy Lady, / Mother of God, / full of grace, / you are the glory of our nature, / the channel of all good things, / the queen of all things after the Trinity…
The Mediatrix of the world after the Mediator; / you are the mysterious bridge that unites earth and heaven, / the key that opens for us the gates of paradise, / our advocate, / our intercessor.
Look upon my faith, / see my pious desires, and remember your mercy and your power.
Mother of Him who alone is merciful and good, / take in my soul in its misery, and through your intercession, / make it worthy one day to be at the right hand of your only Son. Amen.”
Compiled by Gustavo Kralj with files from EWTN and Catholic.net
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