St. Ephrem the Syrian

Ephrem was a deacon of Nisibis in Mesopotamia who taught the faith through song. He wrote hundreds of hymns and trained choirs of women to sing them, so that the people learned true doctrine by heart. When Nisibis was handed to Persia in 363 he moved to Edessa and lived in a cave outside the city. During a famine he organised food and care for the starving, and he died soon after, worn out from serving them. Every weekday of Lent the Church prays his prayer: “O Lord and Master of my life…”

• Feast: January 28 (New Calendar)
• Lived: c. 306–373
• Place: Edessa