Saint Mar Ephrem the Syrian

His Holiness Pope Shenouda speaks about Saint Mar Ephrem the Syrian, a poet, ascetic and abstinent man and a hero of the faith, who composed one hundred and fifty hymns in the meter of the Psalms to respond to faith problems.
The Pope shows the gentleness of his style: a very tender, simple and deep language, so the Syrians call him “the prophet” and “the teacher” and “the harp of the Holy Spirit” for his poetic and theological spirit.
Mar Ephrem was very ascetic in fasting and asceticism, so much that it was said he resembled the angels who have no body, and he was a man of tears in his prayer, the tears for Mar Ephrem were like the breathing in and out in the human body.
He also showed practical mercy: when a famine arose he went down to serve the poor and established a hospital for the sick, embodying practical love alongside poetic spirituality.
Despite his humility he remained a deacon all his life and refused to be ordained a priest or a bishop, he who was raised and taught under some bishops and taught people in markets and roads so that people were amazed by his teaching.
Mar Ephrem faced several heretical attempts, and he answered them with hymns in the meter of the Psalms, and he debated heretics with a gentle manner that convinces and does not wound, and thus he gained souls from pagan philosophers.
The Pope mentioned that he has a large literary popularity: his poetry and writings which were translated into other languages and theological schools were established thanks to his knowledge, and that his fame was because of his spiritual personality not a priestly rank.
The clear spiritual message in the talk: humility, practical service, and spiritual depth expressed poetically are able to change souls and enrich the Church more than offices or titles.

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