Orthodox Icon of St. Ephrem the Syrian

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January 28th
Troparion of Ss. Ephrem & Isaac the Syrians (Tone 1)
Let the multitudes of monastics and cenobites honour our divinely-shining pillars and protectors and intercessors, divine Ephrem and Isaac who are truly of Christ. And let us glorify them with hymns while crying: Glory to Him Who has sanctified you; glory to Him Who has made you wonderful; glory to Him Who has glorified you both in heaven and on earth.
Kontakion of St Ephrem (Tone 2)
O Ephrem, as a lover of silence thou didst ever forsee the hour of reckoning and bitterly lament; and by thy words thou wast indeed a teacher, O righteous one. Wherefore, O father of all the world, thou dost rouse the slothful to repentance.

Ephrem was born in Syria during the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great. He had a troubled youth, but had a spiritual crisis. From that point on he was zealous for the Lord Jesus. He became a disciple of St. James of Nisibis. He worked tirelessly teaching the monks in the monastery as well as the people of Edessa. He wrote many books. His prayers of repentance are heart rendering and instructive. His most famous prayer is used especially during Great Lent: "O Lord and Master of my life ...". When the people wanted to make him bishop, he feigned madness and ran through the city naked, trailing his clothes behind him. They then left him in peace. St. Ephrem was a friend of St. Basil the Great. He reposed in the Lord as an old man in 373.

This icon is by the hand of Nicholas Papas. This icon is one of the "cloud of witnesses" at St. Philip's Antiochian Orthodox Church, Souderton, Pennsylvania.

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