St. Ephrem the Syrian

Patron Saint of Spiritual Directors and Spiritual Leaders

In 350, Ephrem and other Christians were forced to flee their homes when the Persians attacked their city. The holy deacon retired to a cave in a rocky height overlooking Edessa and lived most austerely until his death in 373.

Ephrem is known as the “Harp of the Holy Spirit” because he was a great poet and composer of holy songs. It has been said that Ephrem prayed to Our Lord to “stop the flow of inspiration” because he could not work fast enough to pen all the compositions in his head.

He is the only Syrian Doctor of the Church and was a vigorous defender of the Faith, taking it upon himself to expose and combat many false doctrines of his time.

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