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Hymns and Homilies (Nisibene Hymns, Nativity, Epiphany, The Pearl, Homilies)

Saint Ephraim the Syrian · c. 363 AD

Ante-Nicene Fathers (Roberts–Donaldson), Roberts, Donaldson, and Coxe (eds.), Ante-Nicene Fathers, Buffalo: Christian Literature Publishing, 1885–1887; digitized by CCEL.

Deacon of Edessa; called by tradition "the Harp of the Spirit." The most prolific and influential theologian-poet of the Syriac Christian tradition. His vast corpus of hymns and homilies — written almost entirely in metrical verse — shapes the East Syrian, West Syrian, Maronite, and Byzantine liturgical traditions; his prayer of repentance ("O Lord and Master of my life…") is recited at every weekday office of Great Lent in the Orthodox Church. Commemorated as a saint on 28 January.

Contents

  1. Ephraim Syrus:  The Nisibene Hymns(48 chapters)
  2. Ephraim Syrus:  Nineteen Hymns on the Nativity of Christ in the Flesh(20 chapters)
  3. Ephraim Syrus:  Fifteen Hymns For the Feast of the Epiphany(16 chapters)
  4. Ephraim Syrus:  The Pearl.  Seven Hymns on the Faith(8 chapters)
  5. Ephraim Syrus:  Three Homilies(4 chapters)