Category:Saint Ephrem

Born: c. 306 in Nisibis (modern-day Turkey) Died: 9 June 373 in Edessa (modern-day Turkey) Honored in: All Christianity Feast: 28 January (Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Catholic Churches) 7th Saturday before Easter (Syriac Orthodox Church) June 9 (Roman Catholic Church) June 18 (Maronite Church) Attributes: Vine and scroll, deacon's vestments and thurible; with Saint Basil the Great; composing hymns with a lyre Patronage: Spiritual directors and spiritual leaders

Ephrem the Syrian (Aramaic / Syriac: ܐܦܪܝܡ ܣܘܪܝܝܐ, Mor/Mar Afrêm Sûryāyâ; Greek: Ἐφραίμ ὁ Σῦρος; Latin: Ephraem Syrus; ca. 306 – 373) was a Syriac and a prolific Syriac-language hymnographer and theologian of the 4th century. He is venerated by Christians throughout the world as a saint, especially in the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Prayer of Saint Ephrem
Κύριε καὶ Δέσποτα τῆς ζωῆς μου, πνεῦμα ἀργίας, περιεργίας, φιλαρχίας, καὶ ἀργολογίας μή μοι δῷς., Πνεῦμα δὲ σωφροσύνης, ταπεινοφροσύνης, ὑπομονῆς, καὶ ἀγάπης χάρισαί μοι τῷ σῷ δούλῳ. Ναί, Κύριε Βασιλεῦ, δώρησαι μοι τοῦ ὁρᾶν τὰ ἐμὰ πταίσματα, καὶ μὴ κατακρίνειν τὸν ἀδελφόν μου, ὅτι εὐλογητὸς εἶ, εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν. In English, this is: O Lord and Master of my life, give me not the spirit of sloth, idle curiosity (meddling), lust for power and idle talk. But grant unto me, Thy servant, a spirit of chastity (integrity), humility, patience and love. Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see mine own faults and not to judge my brother. For blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen. The Greek version is the standard form of the prayer, to be found in the Greek Orthodox Church.