Hymns and Homilies of St. Ephraim the Syrian

by Ephrem the Syrian

Born at Nisibis, then under Roman rule, early in the fourth century; died June, 373. The name of his father is unknown, but he was a pagan and a priest of the goddess Abnil or Abizal. His mother was a native of Amid. Ephraem was instructed in the Christian mysteries by St. James, the famous Bishop of Nisibis, and was baptized at the age of eighteen (or twenty-eight). Thenceforth he became more intimate with the holy bishop, who availed himself of the services of Ephraem to renew the moral life of the citizens of Nisibis, especially during the sieges of 338, 346, and 350. One of his biographers relates that on a certain occasion he cursed from the city walls the Persian hosts, whereupon a cloud of flies and mosquitoes settled on the army of Sapor II and compelled it to withdraw. The adventurous campaign of Julian the Apostate, which for a time menaced Persia, ended, as is well known, in disaster, and his successor, Jovianus, was only too happy to rescue from annihilation some remnant of the great army which his predecessor had led across the Euphrates. To accomplish even so much the emperor had to sign a disadvantageous treaty, by the terms of which Rome lost the Eastern provinces conquered at the end of the third century; among the cities retroceded to Persia was Nisibis (363). To escape the cruel persecution that was then raging in Persia, most of the Christian population abandoned Nisibis en masse. Ephraem went with his people, and settled first at Beit-Garbaya, then at Amid, finally at Edessa, the capital of Osrhoene, where he spent the remaining ten years of his life, a hermit remarkable for his severe asceticism. Nevertheless he took an interest in all matters that closely concerned the population of Edessa. Several ancient writers say that he was a deacon; as such he could well have been authorized to preach in public. At this time some ten heretical sects were active in Edessa; Ephraem contended vigorously with all of them, notably with the disciples of the illustrious philosopher Bardesanes. To this period belongs nearly all his literary work; apart from some poems composed at Nisibis, the rest of his writings-sermons, hymns, exegetical treatises-date from his sojourn at Edessa. It is not improbable that he is one of the chief founders of the theological "School of the Persians", so called because its first students and original masters were Persian Christian refugees of 363. At his death St. Ephraem was borne without pomp to the cemetery "of the foreigners". The Armenian monks of the monastery of St. Sergius at Edessa claim to possess his body.

Genres: Religion, Christianity, Theology

390 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1886

About the author

Ephrem the Syrian was a Syriac deacon and a prolific Syriac-language hymnographer and theologian of the 4th century from the region of Syria. 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. These were works of practical theology for the edification of the church in troubled times. So popular were his works, that, for centuries after his death, Christian authors wrote hundreds of pseudepigraphal works in his name. Ephrem's works witness to an early form of Christianity in which Western ideas take little part. He has been called the most significant of all of the fathers of the Syriac-speaking church tradition.

Reviews

[Jacob Aitken · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review will cover the hymns found in the Schaff Edition, NPNF II vol. 13, pp. 117-341. Ephrem's life is quite interesting, as he found himself in several military sieges in Syria and in relocating with different Christian populations.

St Ephraim is particularly difficult to navigate. He is thinking in Semitic idiom, not in Greek. Further, in line with his symbolic ontology, Ephraim rarely tells you what the Symbol means. Or rather, he doesn’t reduce symbol to object. Instead, he leads us from the symbol around the object and back to our understanding. The conversation is never finished. But this makes for good contemplation.

Other difficulties are more straightforward. In the Nisibene hymns it is not always clear to whom Ephraim is writing or who is even speaking.

Spirit and Freedom

*Freedom and godly joy are interchangeable (Ephraim 234). Discipline becomes spontaneous joy. Conversely, money is a master over our freedom (191). Indeed, usury has a deadening effect on spiritual life (225).

The Occult

Contra the bourgeois Christian, Ephraim knows the occultic world is real. The Nephilim are angelic giants (194). Likewise, “magic” is real (213), if not in the crude “hocus-pocus” sense.

The Church

Baptism is a seal that molds us (279). Grace is the freeborn sister to justice (179). And for our more Reformed friends, for Ephraim “the Sabbath is void today” (227).

Evaluation:

Ephrem's role as a personality is likely more lasting than his actual teachings. He stabilized several fractured liturgical communities. His hymns probably are good, but they need those skilled in both English idiom and Syriac.

[Sincerae Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

St. Ephraim or Ephrem was a Syriac theologian who was born in the city of Nisibis, now Nusaybin in southeastern Turkey. Nisibis was located in what was called Roman Mesopotamia. St. Ephraim was an Assyrian. Nisibis was one of the earliest ecclesiastical centers of the East. Being very erudite, St. Ephraim's leadership helped to put the ancient Christian spiritual institution, the School of Nisibis, on the map.

Hymns and Homilies is a collection of the many hymns (Christian songs) and homilies (sermons) penned by St. Ephraim. In these jewels one who has a well comprehension of the Bible and the tenets and maxims of Christianity can gain even more understanding. From my observations in reading this volume, I could discern that St. Ephraim knew the scriptures extremely well. His mastery was such that he was able to gain esoteric meanings of the Holy Scriptures which with that done he placed what he had gleamed in his hymns and homilies which were are not only spiritually deep but also entertaining. Some of the language is old fashioned, but for one who enjoys reading the Old King James version of the Bible, this book was not difficult for me to understand. There are apparently versions with more modern English translations. Personally I feel that perusing more complex and archaic language is helpful for the brain.

I enjoyed this book, particularly the imaginary dialogues which the author created such as the discourse and debate between the devil and death. Since the West has borrowed so much from the East without even acknowledging it in many cases, while reading the debate I wondered if English poet John Milton's idea for his epic poem Paradise Lost was borrowed from the style of St. Ephrem.

For people who are interested in journeying back to more "primitive" Christianity and the literary and philosophical heritage of the faith, I recommend this book. Even though ancient, I find freshness here.

[Phillip Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ephraim's extensive use of the Old Testament figures and stories is unparalleled. Rich imagery and analogy throughout his work.

Thoroughly enjoyed: Nisibine Hymns: On Death and Satan, The Pearl, and homilies on 1) Our Lord, 2) Repentance, and 3) The Sinful Woman.

Syrian Christianity has a different air to it than Byzantine or Western Christianity and Ephraim's thought gives a great introduction to it.

[Christian McGuire · Rating 5 out of 5]

This guy was crazy.

[John Yelverton · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a lot of Roman Catholic dogma, and there are several hymns that would never get sung today and are even downright uncomfortable in their handling of Satan; however, there are a few flashes of brilliance in this work.

[Steve Coombs · Rating 2 out of 5]

My 2 star rating is not for St. Ephraim's writings themselves, but rather for this collection - particularly its introductory section and translation. It begins with an "Introductory Dissertation by John Gwynn", a well-known Syriac scholar from the 1800s. This is by far the worst part of this publication. I really don't know who thought it was a good idea to start out a collection of St. Ephraim's writings with a 75 page (20% of the book) introduction by a man who seems to despise them. Gwynn spends most of his "introduction" disparaging Ephraim, his writing style, and the historicity of most of his life. He complains that Syriac poetry is a mix of Hebrew and Greek poetry but inferior to both, says Ephraim is horribly repetitive, etc. By the end of his introduction I had no more desire to read any of Ephraim's poetry and had to look online for a while to realize Gwynn's views - while at one time popular among a handful of "Syriacists" - are now not widely held. There is a reason, after all, why millions of people have shaped their liturgy around the writings of someone who lived 1700 years ago.

The collection of Hymns and Homilies itself is a mixed bag. The longest collection (The Nisibene Hymns) is translated by JTS Stopford, B.A., and uses very archaic English that feels wooden to a modern reader. But the next collection (19 Hymns on the Nativity of Christ in the Flesh) is translated by J.B. Morris, M.A., and is very smooth and readable. This sort of inconsistency is frustrating.

I'm summary: the introduction is awful and makes you not want to read any of the hymns, and the first collection of hymns is difficult to read. But the other collections are more enjoyable and filled with many precious gems written by "the harp of the Holy Spirit".

[Jill M Caldwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Readable and beautiful

The hymns could be chanted today as easily as I imagine they were when written. St Ephraim the Syrian, Pray for us c and the people of Syria.

[w gall · Rating 5 out of 5]

The very best 1st millennium (0-1000 AD) Christian poet. The translation is an an easy read of profound thoughts and sentiments. Semitic in expression rather than Greek (more like the Bible).

[Paul Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting hymns and homilies on penance, death at different stages of life, the four last things, and God's mercy in the face of our sinfulness.

[Ted · Rating 2 out of 5]

These are hymns that appeared in other much older English editions that are simply collected and released in this book with no additional commentary. I just don't appreciate the antiquated English language. There are better renderings of other works of St. Ephrem.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recommend skipping to the homily "On Our Lord" for a taste of the ancient Christian understanding of atonement. Ephraim carried the "Christus Victor" torch and held it high.