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Hierarch6th century

Saint Ephraim Patriarch of Antioch

later 5th century – 545

Also known as Ephraim of Antioch

A military commander who, after a great earthquake at Antioch, was raised to its patriarchal throne, and shepherded the Church with compassion and zeal for the true faith.

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Our Father among the Saints Ephraim, Patriarch of Antioch

Life

Ephraim of Antioch was a sixth-century Byzantine statesman and soldier who rose to become Patriarch of Antioch, one of the senior sees of the early Church. Born in Amida in Mesopotamia in the later fifth century, he served as a military and civil official under the emperors Anastasius I and Justin I before an earthquake reshaped both the city of Antioch and the course of his life.

After the catastrophic earthquake of 526 left the patriarchal throne vacant, Ephraim was charged with rebuilding the ruined city, and in 527 he was elected its patriarch. He governed for roughly two decades, distinguished by his administration, his charity toward the destitute, and his firm defense of the Council of Chalcedon and its teaching on the two natures, divine and human, united in the Person of Christ.

Troparion1 hymnReadHide
TroparionTone 4

In truth you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith,
an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence;
your humility exalted you;
your poverty enriched you.
Hierarch Father Ephraim,
entreat Christ our God
that our souls may be saved.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline5 momentsReadHide
  1. c. 522Count of the EastUnder Emperor Justin I, Ephraim was appointed comes Orientis (Count of the East), a senior civil and military office governing the eastern provinces. He also held the dignity of comes sacrarum largitionum and entered the Byzantine Senate.
  2. 526The earthquake at AntiochA devastating earthquake struck Antioch, killing a large number of its inhabitants; Patriarch Euphrasius died beneath a fallen column. The emperor summoned Ephraim to oversee the restoration of the ruined city.
  3. 527Elected Patriarch of AntiochDuring the rebuilding Ephraim was elected to the patriarchal throne of Antioch, the same year Justinian I succeeded to the imperial throne.
  4. 542Synod of GazaEphraim attended the Synod of Gaza, which condemned the teachings associated with Origen.
  5. 545ReposeEphraim reposed in 545 after roughly eighteen years as patriarch.

Contributions & Legacy

3 contributionsReadHide

From general to patriarch

Before his episcopacy Ephraim pursued a distinguished secular career in the service of the Eastern Roman state. Sources record him as a Syrian, born at Amida (modern Diyarbakir) in Mesopotamia, who served under the emperors Anastasius I and Justin I and rose to the rank of Count of the East, the senior official responsible for the eastern frontier provinces. The synaxarion remembers him as a man marked by virtue, piety, and compassion for the poor.

His turn to the Church followed the 526 earthquake. Entrusted by the emperor with restoring Antioch, he won the confidence of clergy and people, and upon the death of Patriarch Euphrasius in the disaster he was raised to the patriarchal throne in 527. The tradition relates that a bishop encountered during the rebuilding foretold his election and urged him to persevere in charity and in the defense of the faith.

Defense of Chalcedon

As patriarch, Ephraim was a determined upholder of the Council of Chalcedon and its definition that the divine and human natures are united without confusion in the one Person of Christ. He followed the Christology of Cyril of Alexandria and acted against the non-Chalcedonian (Monophysite) party then strong in Syria, convening synods that condemned Severus of Antioch and the teaching of Eutyches.

Though he was a prolific theological writer, the great majority of his works have been lost, surviving only as passages quoted by later authors. His memory in the Church centers on his role as a vigorous shepherd who labored to keep his flock within the bounds of the Chalcedonian confession.

Traditional Accounts

The synaxarion preserves an account of Ephraim's encounter, near Herakleia, with a stylite who held to heretical opinions. Challenged to demonstrate the truth of his faith, the patriarch prayed to Christ and placed his omophorion in a bonfire. After three hours the wood was wholly consumed, yet the omophorion was drawn out unharmed, and by this sign the stylite was returned to Orthodoxy.

Related Saints2 saintsShowHide

Saints connected to his life, mission, and place in Orthodox tradition.

Theological heir: Ephraim followed Cyril's Christology in upholding the Council of Chalcedon against the non-Chalcedonian party.
CyrilArchbishop of Alexandria
Same event: the 526 Antioch earthquake, which Zosimus foresaw at a distance and after which Ephraim rebuilt the city and was raised to the patriarchal throne.
Venerable Zosimusof Phoenicia

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints