St. Ephrem the Syrian

Saint Ephrem the Syrian

Confessor & Doctor of the Church

Ephrem was born in the city of Nisibis to a Syrian family, in the early fourth century. He was baptized by Bishop St. James of Nisibis, and thereafter helped the bishop educate and evangelize in the region. Ephrem was particularly effective in spiritually guiding the people through times of warfare and siege, and once drove off the Persian army himself by calling down a plague of insects upon them. When the Persians finally gained the city in a peace treaty, Ephrem and most of his fellow Christians fled the resulting persecution, and the saint eventually came to Edessa. He was made a deacon by St. Basil the Great, but out of extreme humility Ephrem refused to ever be ordained a priest, and he soon retreated to the wilderness to live as a hermit. Much of Ephrem’s writing was done during his time in Edessa, including hundreds of hymns, many of which were specifically written to help his fellow Christians memorize Catholic doctrine. Praised by many fellow Church Fathers, including St. Jerome, Ephrem died in Edessa in the year of Our Lord 373. Beloved especially by the Syriac Christians, who call him the “Harp of the Holy Ghost”, Ephrem is celebrated on January 28th in the East and on June 9th in the modern calendar.

Traditional Roman Martyrology for June 18th

AT Rome, on the Ardeatine road, in the persecution of Diocletian, the birthday of the saintly brothers Marcus and Marcellian, martyrs, who were arrested by the judge Fabian, tied to a stake, and had sharp nails driven into their feet. As they ceased not to praise the name of Christ, they were pierced through the sides with lances, and thus went to the kingdom of heaven with the glory of martyrdom.

At Malaga, in Spain, the holy martyrs Cyriacus, and the virgin Paula, who were overwhelmed with stones, and yielded up their souls to God.

At Tripoli, in Phoenicia, in the time of the governor Adrian, St. Leontius, a soldier, who, through bitter torments, attained to the crown of martyrdom, together with the tribune Hypatius and Theodulus, whom he had converted to Christ.

The same day, St. AEtherius, martyr, in the persecution of Diocletian. After enduring fire and other torments, he was put to death with the sword.

At Alexandria, the passion of St. Marina, virgin.

At Bordeaux, St. Amandus, bishop and confessor.

At Sacca, in Sicily, St. Calogerus, hermit, whose holiness is principally manifested by the deliverance of possessed persons.

At Schongau, St. Elizabeth, virgin, celebrated for her observance of monastic discipline.

℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.

℟. Thanks be to God.