The Departure of St . Ephraem El-Soriani (The Syrian (

On this day, of the year 379 A .D ., the holy father, St . Ephraem (Ephraim) the Syrian, departed . Hewas born in the city of Nissibis, in the beginning of the fourth century to pagan parents, during the days429of the righteous Emperor Constantine . It happened that he met with St . James bishop of Nissibis, whopreached to him and taught him the particulars of the Christian Faith . Ephraem believed on his hands .St . James baptized him and Ephraim stayed with him . He excelled in his worship that surpassed hiscontemporaries . He debated the pagans and overcame them by the grace that was within him . Whenthe council of Nicea convened, he went with his teacher St . James to attend the council .One day, it happened that while St . Ephraem was praying, he saw a pillar of light which extended fromearth to heaven . When he marvelled at what he saw, he heard a voice saying to him, "That what yousaw is St . Basil, Bishop of Caesaria ." St . Ephraem longed to see St . Basil and he went to Caesaria . Heentered the church and stood in a corner of it . He saw St . Basil in his priestly vestments embroideredwith gold . St . Ephraim doubted the holiness of St . Basil . The Lord showed him a white dove thatalighted over St . Basil's head . God then inspired St . Basil of the presence of St . Ephraem . St . Basilcalled him by his name, and St . Ephraem marvelled at how he knew him . They greeted each other, andSt . Basil ordained him a deacon .St . Ephraem increased his asceticism, and many great virtues were manifested through him that surpassdescription . Among which was that of an honorable woman, who was ashamed to confess her sinsorally to St . Basil . She wrote on a paper her sins which she had committed since her youth, and gave itto St . Basil . When he received it and knew what was written in it, he prayed for her . The piece of paperbecame blank except for only one great sin . The woman wept, and entreated him to pray for her thatGod might forgive this sin for her . St . Basil told her, "Go to the wilderness where St . Ephraem is andhe will pray for you ." The woman went to him and told him what had happened . He said to her, "I amnot worthy of this honor, go back to St . Basil for he is a high priest . Go now quickly before he departsfrom this world ." When the woman returned, she found that St . Basil had departed, and was carried onthe heads of the priests . She wept, and threw the piece of paper on his coffin . She prayed to Godinterceding through the saint . Then, she took the piece of paper, and she found it completely blank .St . Ephraem had performed many miracles . In his days, Ebn-Disan the Infidel appeared . This fatherdebated with him until he overcame his erroneous opinions . He wrote many articles and discourses .When he completed his strife, he departed to the Lord .May his prayers be with us . Amen .