Venerable Ephraim, Patriarch of Antioch (+545)

The Venerable Ephraim, Patriarch of Antioch (+545). Ephraim was a military commander in the time of the Emperors Anastasius (491–518) and Justin (518–527). The young Syrian was distinguished by kindness, piety and compassion.

In 526 the Lord brought punishment on Antioch for inclining towards the heresies of Nestorius and Eutyches: an earthquake turned the glorious city into ruins. A great many inhabitants perished. Patriarch Euphrasius was killed by a falling column.

The emperor sent Ephraim to restore the city. Among the workers was a bishop who, desiring hidden labour, had left his see. He foretold that the saint would be patriarch, and asked him not to give up his works of charity and to fight firmly against the heretics. In 527 Saint Ephraim was consecrated patriarch. He governed his flock firmly and wisely, and by his own way of life, by preaching and by letters he protected it from heretical teachings.

One incident speaks of the strength of his faith: near Hierapolis there laboured a stylite who had fallen into heresy. When Saint Ephraim learned of this, he went to the monk and urged him to return to Orthodoxy. The stylite refused. He even tried to frighten the patriarch and proposed that they light a great fire and go into the flames together. The fire was lit, but the heretical monk did not dare go into it. Then the patriarch fervently besought the Lord to bear witness whose faith was without error, took off his omophorion and gave it to the fire. After three hours the wood had burned to ashes, but the omophorion remained unharmed. Seeing this miracle, the stylite renounced his heresy and joined the Orthodox.

The holy patriarch reposed in peace in 545.

In his writings the Venerable Ephraim defended the Orthodox teaching on the two natures of Christ.