EPHRAEM, or EPHRAIM ('Esppaia), an ecclesiastical writer of the 4th century of our era, was probably born in the town of Nisibis, though some state that he was born at Edessa. The time at which he attained the height of his fame is about A.D. 370. In his early youth he entered the monastic life, and in seclusion he carried on his philosophical studies with zeal and success. But at a later period ho seems to have become tired of solitary life, and feeling a strong desire to benefit others by the talent and knowledge which he possessed, he went. to Edessa, whither the most distinguished Syrians eamo to receive his instruction. He soon became deacon of the church at Edessa, but declined accepting any higher ecclesiastical office, and when he was elected bishop and received intelligence of it he rushed forth iuto the market-place and acted in such a manner that the people thought he was out of his senses. He then absconded until another had been appointed to the office of bishop in his place. He now went to Caesarea in Cappadocia, to sex Basilius the Great, who formed the highest opinion of his learning and piety. Ephraem spent the greater part of his life iu writing and preaching on devotional and moral subjects, and especially against the Arian heresy ; but he was equally energetic whenever there was any occasion to show by his acts that he really was the benevolent man that he appeared to be.
This was especially manifest at the time when Edessa was suffering from famine: ho gave his assistance everywhere ; he called upon the rich to help the poor, and he himself undertook the ease of seeing that the poor received what was intended for them. He was looked up to with admiration and reverence by his contemporaries, who distinguished him by the honourable desiguation of the prophet of the Syrians.' He died about 378, having ordered in his will that no one should praise him, according to the common practice, in a funeral oration, that his body should not be wrapped up in costly robes, and that no monument should be erected ou his tomb. An interesting life o' Ephramn, though not free from marvellous stories, is contained in the 'Acta Sanetorum: tons. i. Fehr. 49, &e. ; comp. Nyssenus,
' Opera,' tom. ii. c. 60; Sozomen, iii. 16; Hieronymus, 'De Scriptor.,' c. 115 ; Photius, 'Biblioth. Cod.,' 196; and some other sources col lected by G. Voseius, in the first volume of his edition of the works of Ephraem.
Ephraem was one of the most prolific writers of his time. He knew no other language than the Syriac, but was considered to sur pass all his contemporaries in the elegance and power of his oratory.
Nearly all his works were translated into Greek in his own lifetime, and their popularity was so great that in some churches they were publicly read after the Scriptures. The Greek Church down to this day regards him as a saint. According to Photius, he wrote upwards of a thousand orations, besides many hymns, poems, and treatises on a variety of theological, philosophical, and moral subjeots, which are still highly esteemed by theologians. Nearly all his works are extant, either in or in Greek and Arabic translations. The first collection of thein that was published, though it is not complete, and only in a Latin translation, is that of G. Vossius, in 3 vols. folio, Rome, 1586-97 ; reprinted at Cologne, 1603, and at Antwerp, 1619. The publication of this Latin translation created a strong desire to see all the works of Ephraem, if not in the original Syriac, at least in the Greek translations which were made in the author's lifetime. This arduous task was undertaken by Assemaui, who intended to publish the Greek in three folio volumes, and the Syriac in three others. The first three volumes, edited by Assemani himself, appeared at Rome in 1732-16; and the last three, containing the Syriac, were edited by Father Benedetti and Stefano Auensani. The Prolegomena to this edition contain everything worth knowing respecting the life and writings of Ephmern.
(Cave, II istoria Literaria, vol. 1. p. 188, kc. ; Fabricius, Banta Grac , vol. viii. p. 217, &c, ed. IIarlea)