From your tears you cultivated the barren streams of the desert, / and those who sighed from the depths with a hundred labors bore fruit, / and you were the lamp of the universe, shining with wonders, Ephraim Our Father, // pray to Christ God, that our souls may be saved.
Ever foreseeing the hour of Judgment,/ you wept bitterly, O Ephraim, as you were silent in love,/ but you were an active teacher in affairs, like a reverend.// Moreover, universal father, The lazy are raised to repentance.
Oh, saint of Christ, our Father Ephraim! Bring our prayer to the merciful and all-powerful God and ask us, the servants of God (names), from His goodness all that is for the benefit of our souls and bodies, right faith, hope without doubt, unfeigned love, meekness and kindness, courage in temptation, patience in suffering, prosperity in piety, so that we do not turn the gifts of the All-Good God into evil. Do not forget, O miracle-working saint, this holy temple (house) and our parish: preserve and preserve them with your prayers from all evil. To her, Holy One of God, grant us a good end and the Kingdom of Heaven to inherit, so that we may glorify the wondrous God in His saints, to Him belongs all glory, honor and power, forever and ever. Amen.
Oh, sacred head, holy father, most blessed Abba Ephraim! Do not forget your poor to the end, but always remember us in holy and favorable prayers to God: remember your flock, which you yourself shepherded, and do not forget to visit your children. Pray for us, holy father, for your spiritual children, as you have boldness towards the Heavenly King: do not be silent for us to the Lord, and do not despise us, who honor you with faith and love: Remember us unworthy at the Throne of the Almighty, and do not stop praying for us to Christ God, for grace has been given to you to pray for us. We do not think that you are dead: even though you passed away from us in body, you remain alive even after death, do not depart from us in spirit, preserving us from the arrows of the enemy and all the delights of demons and snares devilish, to our good shepherd. Even though your relics are always visible before our eyes, your holy soul stands with the angelic hosts, with the disembodied faces, with the Heavenly powers, at the Throne of the Almighty, We rejoice with dignity, knowing that you are truly alive even after death, we bow down to you and we pray to you: pray for us to Almighty God, for the benefit of our souls, and ask us time for repentance, yes Let us pass from earth to Heaven without restraint, from bitter ordeals, from demons of the princes of the air, and from eternal torment, may we be delivered, and may we be heirs of the Heavenly Kingdom with all the righteous, from eternity pleasing our Lord Jesus Christ: To Him is due all glory, honor and worship, with His Father who is without beginning, and with His Most Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen.
Reverend Father Ephraim! Look upon us mercifully and lead those who are devoted to the earth to the heights of heaven. You are grief in heaven, we are on earth below, removed from you, not only in place, because of our sins and iniquities, but we run to you and cry: instruct us to walk in your way, with understanding and lead. Your whole holy life will be a mirror of all virtue. Don’t stop, saint of God, crying to the Lord for us. By your intercession, ask our All-Merciful God for the peace of His Church, under the sign of the militant cross, agreement in faith and unity of wisdom, the destruction of vanity and schisms, establishment in good deeds, healing for the sick, consolation for the sad, intercession for the offended, help for the needy. Do not disgrace us, who flow to you in faith. All Orthodox Christians, through your miracles and benevolent mercies, confess that you are their patron and protector. Reveal your ancient mercies, and to whom you helped your father in all things, do not deny us, their children, who are marching towards you in their footsteps. Before your most venerable icon, as I live for you, we fall down and pray: accept our prayers and offer them up on the altar of God’s mercy, so that we may receive your grace and timely help for our needs. Strengthen our cowardice and confirm us in faith, so that we undoubtedly hope to receive all the good from the mercy of the Lord through your prayers. Oh, great servant of God! Help all of us who flow to you with faith through your intercession to the Lord, and guide us all in peace and repentance to end our lives and dwell with hope in the blessed the bosom of Abraham, where you now rest joyfully in your labors and struggles, glorifying God with all the saints, glorified in the Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and ever. Amen.
Memorial Day January 28/February 10
Ascetic and spiritual writer who lived in the 4th century. From a young age he left the world and retired to hermits after he was imprisoned on false charges. Afterwards, already being a Christian, he was once again subjected to the slanderous accusation of seducing a girl, but was justified by God before people. He put a lot of effort into the fight against the Arian heresy, wrote many interpretative and moral works, penitential and funeral chants. Protector of all those innocently slandered and oppressed, mentor of monasticism, giver of humility and chastity.
*Minea. January 28th.
** Heavenly intercessors / Comp. Stroganova M.V. - M.: Blagovest, 2014. - 576 p.