EPHRAEM, poet and theologian.

B. at Nisibis, c. 306; d. at Edessa, 373; f.d. 18 June.

He was a deacon all his life, which was passed in his native Mesopotamia. In 363 he migrated from Nisibis to Edessa (Urfa in Iraq), whose important theological school was famous. Ephraem's fame rests on his writings, above all on his metrical homilies, to be read aloud, and his hymns for singing. The latter in particular were designed for popular use and were didactic in character, often directed against various false doctrines then current. Compositions attributed to him are still much used in the Syrian churches, and his reputation spread to the Greekspeaking world before his death. The English hymns 'Receive, O Lord, in Heaven above/Our prayers' and 'Virgin, wholly marvellous' are translated from St Ephraem's Syriac. He wrote commentaries on a considerable number of books of the Bible, and a personal 'Testament' which seems to have been added to by a later hand. All St Ephraem's work is elevated in style, 'flowery’ in expression, and full of imagery: even as a theologian he wrote as a poet. He has always been regarded as a great teacher in the Syrian churches and many of his works were early translated into Greek, Armenian, and Latin. In 1920 Pope Benedict XV proclaimed him a doctor of the church.