The Complete Works of Saint Ephrem the Syrian, Volume 2

...we have learned by experience; for indeed, this Holy Elder original: "Sanctus quippe hic Senex" — referring to Saint Ephrem. has clearly softened, broken, and bent souls which you might have called stones due to their evil and stubborn hardness. In a similar way, Photius A 9th-century Patriarch of Constantinople and renowned scholar. marvels that even if it was due to the fault of an unskilled translator that the Sermons of Saint EPHREM retain nothing excellent or sublime above the common and everyday form of speech, they nevertheless produce such miraculous effects in the minds of the listeners. "It is to be wondered at," he says, "how through such lowliness of words such great salvation and utility is poured out upon the readers." original: "Suspicien- dum, inquit, quomodo per tantam vilitatem verborum tanta salus, atque utilitas in legentes effundatur." And indeed, Photius confesses that he had read only a few of such Sermons; yet he affirms, based on the testimony of the Syrians, that they exceed a thousand in number. Theophanes Theophanes the Confessor (c. 758–818), a Byzantine monk and chronicler. truly reports, from the account of those who had read them, that EPHREM left three hundred myriads A "myriad" is ten thousand; this refers to a traditional, likely hyperbolic, count of three million lines of verse. of songs to his Syrians.

Therefore, by the best right, Saint EPHREM is proclaimed by the great Chrysostom Saint John Chrysostom (c. 347–407), the famed "Golden-Mouthed" preacher of Antioch and Constantinople. as the "Awakener of those in stupor, the consoler of the afflicted, the discipline of the young, the Instructor of Penitents, the sword and spear against Heretics, the vessel of virtues, and the dwelling place and lodging of the Holy Spirit"; and he is deservedly celebrated by his own Syrians as the "Harp of the Holy Spirit" original: "Spiritus sancti Cithara" at the Vespers of every Sunday and all solemnities. But there is a difference between the Blessed EPHREM and other Holy Doctors, for which the Church confesses she owes him something more in this regard: namely, that since he encompassed Catholic Doctrine in Hymns and Canticles—which, as I have said, exceed many hundreds—it happened that they spread through all the nations of the East, even reaching the region of the Chinese original: "Sinarum regionem" — likely a reference to the 7th-century Nestorian missions to China, evidence of which (the Xi'an Stele) had been rediscovered in the 17th century. which is otherwise inaccessible to foreigners, as I have indicated elsewhere. This, therefore, is that "variety" A reference to Psalm 45:14, describing the Church's "many-colored" or "variegated" garments. which the Prophets predicted would be forged from the influx of different peoples; this is that consensus of nations by which Saint Augustine Saint Augustine of Hippo (354–430). professed he was most strongly held within the Catholic Church. It is the most certain mark of the Bride of Christ, and a royal and divine sign of her dignity: finally, we say that this is that distinguished and singular honor procured for this Divine Bride by the Books of the Blessed EPHREM.

And yet there remains something else for which you may rightly praise the labor of the Blessed EPHREM in adorning the Bride of Christ; for first of all, he wonderfully increased the majesty and splendor of the Ecclesiastical Offices The set of daily prayers and services, also known as the Liturgy of the Hours. by these same labors. This is testified to not only by the Christian rites of the Syrians or Greeks, but also by the ancient lectionaries lectionaries: books containing the portions of Scripture and other readings to be used in public worship. of the Latin Church. Furthermore, he increased the harmony of the Sacred Psalmody and the solemnities of the Martyrs with his songs, and by his example, he stirred the Greeks to enrich the Offices of their own Church with similar care. This was indeed performed afterward according to the standard of Saint EPHREM by Joseph the Hymnographer, Andrew of Crete, and John of Damascus Key figures in the development of Byzantine hymnography., to omit others of lesser name. In this matter, we do not need the testimony of Theodoret or Sozomen Church historians of the 5th century.; the truth is well known, made most evident by daily use continued from the age of the Holy Doctor himself down to this very day. For who among the Christian peoples in the East—the assemblies of the Chaldeans, Syrians, Maronites, and Indians... Referring to the Saint Thomas Christians of India.