Today is the memorial of St. Ephrem, deacon and doctor of the Church. He was born around 306 in Nisbis, Mesopotamia, to a Christian family. He later fled to Edessa where he was ordained a deacon. He founded a biblical school there that was very well known. He declined ordination to the priesthood, and avoided ordination to the episcopacy. He was a great scholar, especially of the Scriptures.
He would take the songs of heretical groups and using their melodies would write hymns embodying orthodox teaching. He was one of the first to introduce song into the Church’s liturgy as a means of catechesis.
One of his titles was, “Harp of the Holy Spirit.”
He died around 373 AD.
Deacons, let us imitate our ancient brother. Let us aspire only to our calling as servants of the Lord, and use every means available to us to preach and teach the Word of God, especially to those who may be misled or who may have left the Church but inwardly yearn for the truth.
