Fr. Ephraim of Katounakia was born in 1912 in Ambelochori, Thiva (Greece). His father was named Ioannis Papanikitas and his mother was Victoria. The Elder's worldly name was Evangelos. He completed high school, but the Grace of God closed off to Evangelos the worldly paths of waywardness.
In Thiva, where his family moved to, Evangelos came to know his later Elders, Ephraim and Nikephoros.
The life of Evangelos was monastic. He struggled spiritually with the Jesus prayer, with prostrations, with fasting, but especially with obedience.
His mother was made worthy to receive from St. Ephraim the Syrian the knowledge that it was his desire that his son become a monk and that Evangelos would keep the monastic life.
On September 14th 1933, Evangelos left the world and came to the desert of the Holy Mountain at Katounakia, to the hesychasterion of St. Ephraim the Syrian, and made his prostration to the synodeia of the Elders Ephraim and Nikephoros. After the trial period, he was tonsured a monk of the small schema with the name Longinos. In 1935 he became a great schema monk from his Elder Nikephoros and received the name Ephraim. The next year he was ordained a Priest.
Papa Ephraim was made worthy to know the great rector of the hesychastic life, the discerning and foreseeing and holy Elder Joseph the Hesychast (1898-1959), and became united with him spiritually together with the blessing of his Elder Nikephoros. Elder Joseph, over time, taught him the un-deluded spiritual life from the famous hesychasts, monk Kallinikos and Hieromonk Daniel. Later, Papa Ephraim taught us the persistent search for the spiritual life and finding an un-deluded and simple spiritual guide, who would be an act of the proper Orthodox faith. The un-deluded spiritual father sees the demonic traps and with corresponding medicine leads the spiritual children to Paradise.
Blessed Papa Ephraim distinguished true from sick obedience when he counseled a monk of a cenobium to show obedience to his Elder not like an animal, but from love and zeal for God.
The holy Elder Joseph the Hesychast gave a program of the hesychastic life to Papa Ephraim, in order to cultivate the prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me", to keep watch over his senses and to lead him towards purification of the heart and divine illumination.
Papa Ephraim, with the blessing of Elder Joseph, was nourished by the "Philokalia of the Holy Neptics", and received the counsels of the Neptic Fathers regarding his struggle. He did not read psychiatric books, nor cultural books on the spiritual life that people keep in the living rooms, nor did he have the fear that he would be included in the circle of "fundamentalism" by worldly people.
Elder Ephraim of Katounakia before a picture of Elder Joseph the Hesychast, his great spiritual guide (source)
In 1973, Hieromonk Nikephoros, his Elder reposed. After 1980 the Elder had gathered a synodeia around him and kept the commandment of Elder Joseph to keep a synodeia after the death of Papa Nikephoros. Later, Papa Ephraim reached purification and became that very Elder. Papa Ephraim fought the great enemy of the spiritual life, kenodoxia (vainglory). His sacrifices were for Christ, and not to seek the praise from men.
The Divine Liturgy for Papa Ephraim was astounding and experiential event. He secretly related to a Hieromonk spiritual friend of his that from the first Divine Liturgy that he celebrated, he saw sensibly the Grace of God transform the divine Gifts. Of course, after the sanctification of the Precious Gifts, he saw Christ Himself on the Holy Paten, and it was impossible for him to hold back his tears, when he broke apart the Body of Christ. His tears watered the antimension, and to the right and left he saw Angels serving with him.
Elder Ephraim of Katounakia (source)
However, Papa Ephraim never sought "liturgical renewal", and in fact, he asked those in cenobiums in the outside world who were at outside diakonemas to not abandon the Psalter.
Papa Ephraim was adorned with the gift of discernment, and saw the spiritual state of every cleric or monk and granted the corresponding medicine for their progress in the spiritual life.
The Grace of God had granted Papa Ephraim the gift of foreknowledge, and because of this, he saw situations that would occur beforehand (such as the earthquake of 1977 in Thessaloniki), and also many times he had called lay people, even from their childhood years, by the name that they would later receive in their monastic tonsure. For example, a student sent a general letter to the blessed Elder without details, and he received a response from Papa Ephraim which related details of his spiritual state and the situation of his village without the student having told him anything beforehand.
Once, some clerics who did not know each other met on the road to Katounakia, and when they reached Papa Ephraim, the blessed holy Elder began to berate one of the clerics, saying that he was not a priest but a mason, who took off his raso, in order to spy on the Holy Mountain. The mason acknowledged his plan.
Papa Ephraim lived experiences which only Orthodox Christians could experience, far away from papist or protestant delusions.
Once, an Abbot, two theologians and a student asked Papa Ephraim to describe the fragrance of holy relics.
The Elder bent his head to the side of his heart and prayed. The place was filled with fragrance and Papa Ephraim told them that because he could not explain it, he entreated God to respond to those he was speaking with.
Papa Ephraim sensed sins as stench. Once, a bishop through a third party asked the blessed holy Elder about ecumenism. The Elder prayed for God to inform him, and then he sensed a stench with a sour, salty and bitter taste, which filled him with dismay.
The Depository of the blessed Papa Ephraim on the unity of the Orthodox was clear: "Schism occurs easily, but unity with difficulty."
So, how much do the words of a modern-day God-bearing Father resonate today?
Elder Ephraim of Katounakia (center), depicted with Elder Joseph of Vatopedi (right) and Elder Ephraim of Arizona (left)-- all spiritual children of Elder Joseph the Hesychast (source)
Papa Ephraim was highlighted by the Grace of God as a practical guide in the pastoral care of marriage and family, because he helped many young people to embrace marriage without forcing them, and because of this, his letters which have survived comprise a spiritual depository of "parental education", without psychological or philosophical theories for struggling spiritual families.
In 1996 Papa Ephraim suffered a stroke and remained paralyzed. He did not complain at all but glorified God.
Elder Ephraim with his synodeia later in life (source)
He leaves us his holy paradigm on how to face afflictions.
On February 14 / 27th 1998 Papa Ephraim of Katounakia and Mount Athos delivered his holy soul to the hands of his Creator, Whom he served from his youth.
It was said of a very old man who lived in the 19th century, that he was asked what was the most astonishing moment of his life. He responded that when he was small, he saw and heard St. Kosmas Aitolos.
And our generation was made worthy to know the fragrant flowers of Athonite Monasticism, St. Paisios and Papa Ephraim of Katounakia, who call us to follow their life's example.
(
source)
Elder Ephraim of Katounakia was officially canonized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate on March 9th, 2020, together with Elders Joseph the Hesychast and Daniel of Katounakia.
Elders Ephraim of Katounakia and Aimilianos of Simonopetra (source)
The Relationship between Elders Ephraim of Katounakia and Aimilianos of Simonopetra
Elder Aimilianos of Simonopetra was two years younger than Papa Ephraim, but the Most-holy Theotokos had judged that that hieromonk was in a state to understand the experiences of that venerable Athonite monk, as Papa Ephraim later related:
"Our hearts became one, and met like two flames rising up to heaven!"
At his first impression, Papa Ephraim misunderstood the later Elder Aimilianos of Simonopetra. He saw him dressed well, appeared with clothes well-ironed, amorphous, like a little prince, and he said within him:
"Yeah sure, a priest like the others came to talk about prayer! With ironed raso and shirt! Come on, I'll give him a loukoumi so he'll leave!"
Elder Aimilianos, as he was good natured, pleasant and radiant, out of reverence took off his skoufo (hat), and sat respectfully in front of Elder Ephraim. "I am an Abbot in Meteora", he said. He appeared to come with longing to speak with Papa Ephraim on noetic prayer, the monastic life, and its fruits, in general.
"At Meteora you have a lot of people" replied the Elder, perhaps still having some doubt regarding that unexpected visitor. "You should come to the Holy Mountain", he preferred to say.
Something, however, warned Papa Ephraim within him that he somehow misjudged the young Abbot from Meteora, who, after all, had worked hard, together with two others, to come meet with him.
"Maybe I am being unjust to the man?" He said within himself. He went to bring him a loukoumi for a treat, while within he was pressured and had very serious doubt. "Why don't I get information" in order to be sure. His "Information" [from God], was for the Elder a way and path of life.
Elders Ephraim of Katounakia and Aimilianos of Simonopetra (source)
Papa Ephraim went into his chapel, to the icon of Panagia in order to get "information" on Fr. Aimilianos, the "selfish muse fire outside, the amorphous one from Meteora".
Papa Ephraim made two, then three prostrations, and said straightaway with honor to the Theotokos: "My Panagia, should I speak with him, or will I waste my words?"
Then, the Blessed Elder Ephraim of Katounakia heard the Most-holy Theotokos herself reply from within Her Icon:
"You have found a second Elder Joseph [the Hesychast]. Speak with him!!" She said.
Papa Ephraim arose, sweating and astonished! "O! I'm crying within myself!!" He said with astonishment. He ran outside, took Fr. Aimilianos and led him into the chapel. They talked for hours between them, and from then on, they were never separated.
Papa Ephraim continuously said of that man planted by God at Meteora: "I found my departed Elder, another Elder Joseph, the golden-tonged and honorable Elder Aimilianos!"
Elsewhere, he said of Elder Aimilianos: "He, my child, is fragrance."
(
source)
The Blessed Skull of Elder Ephraim of Katounakia, bearing the shape of the Cross and the golden color of the Holy Relics of the Saints (source)
Selected quotes from Elder Ephraim of Katounakia
Everyone has a cross to carry. Why? Since the leader of our faith endured the cross, we will also endure it. On one hand, the cross is sweet and light, but, on the other, it can also be bitter and heavy. It depends on our will. If you bear Christ’s cross with love then it will be very light; like a sponge or a cork. But if you have a negative attitude, it becomes heavy; too heavy to lift.
Taken from the book: Elder Ephraim of Katounakia
Prayer is a struggle. It strengthens the fight of the faithful against the devil but it is itself also a painful and bloody
struggle. All our effort is to concentrate our nous on the words of the "Jesus Prayer."
We should make our nous deaf and mute to any other thought, either good or bad, that evil brings us. We should not listen
to the thoughts that come from outside or answer them. We need to despise them completely and not converse with them.
Thus we should seek in every way the complete muteness of our nous because only with this action can we keep our soul
in calmness so that the Jesus Prayer can act effectively.
Elder Ephraim of Katounakia (source)
It is known that the thoughts are led from the mind into the heart and disturb it. The troubled mind also troubles the heart.
Just as the wind raises the waves of the sea, so the wind of thoughts raises waves in the soul. Attentiveness is necessary
for prayer. That is why the Fathers talk about prayer in combination with watchfulness. Watchfulness keeps the nous in
constant alertness and readiness and prayer brings the divine grace...
The Holy Fathers teach that even if man is not always under the dominion of the demons he is, however, under their
influence and persistent hostility. They continually turn around the soul and try, by all means, to make the faithful sin,
either through the senses (when the object is near) or through the imagination (when the person or object is far away) or
through the movements of the flesh. For the whole of man, who consists of soul and body, receives the influence of Satan
and gets captured by him.
The hostile tactics of the evil, however, are more apparent during prayer. Those who fight in this inner struggle see evil
making war against them furiously at every step. They see the devil clearly using all means to distract their nous from
God. They see all the cunning devices of the evil demon, who hates the good and kills man.
According to St. Mark the Ascetic: "When the devil sees that the nous is praying in the heart, then he incurs great and
malicious temptations". He hates men exceedingly, and his hatred increases when he sees that they tend to become angels
through prayer, and occupy the place the demons had before their fall. St. Gregory of Nyssa describes this malicious envy
of the devil, caused by the theosis of man: "The demons are consumed by envy and jealousy when men are ready to
acquire kinship with God, whereas they (the demons) have fallen from their relationship with the good"...
Imagination is the most cunning weapon of Satan; imagining the past and imagining the future; imagining good works,
imagining bad ones. Various thoughts come and preoccupy the nous, so that it ceases to meditate on the name of Jesus. He
tries to make man not to show interest in God and express his love. Primarily he coaxes him to call to mind the various
faults he has committed in his former and recent life.
The Holy Fathers say that the war is usually as fierce as the passions were before. For every pleasure he must pay the
proportionate pain. There is a close connection between pleasure and pain in the ascetic life of the Fathers. Pleasure
brought about both the Fall and pain; and it is precisely this pain which restores man to his original state and cures him.
Thus, man suffers a lot. He pays for each thought and evil pleasure the proportionate amount of suffering, so that an
equilibrium may be restored.
Events that happened many years ago which he felt pleasure for, being forgotten in the meantime, appear now in all their
intensity and range. He may even reach the point of disgust and despair.
Blasphemous thoughts come upon the athlete of prayer...incredulity about the great matters of faith, like the divinity of
Christ and the purity of the Most Holy Mother of God and the Saints, etc. Many times these thoughts are expressed and
verbalized during prayer, without the wrestler of this struggle knowing it or wanting it...
An icon of Elder Ephraim of Katounakia (source)
Blasphemous thoughts must be opposed with contempt. Only in this way do they disappear. Blasphemous thoughts are
inspired by the devil they are not ours. Here we can affirm that the Lord's word has validity: "You cannot serve God and
mammon", (Matt. 6:24) that is, the nous cannot do two things simultaneously. It cannot be enchanted by the sweetest
nectar of the Jesus prayer on the one hand and on the other hand, while it is praying, doubt the power of prayer or
dogmatic truths. The latter is the attack of the devil. Contempt then is needed and if the blasphemous thought continually
attacks us, it needs confession to the spiritual father. Then it disappears immediately. Moreover, the same happens with
persistent thoughts. A thought that persists, especially during prayer, needs to be confessed. Thus the devil who hides
under it immediately disappears, like the snake when we lift up the stone...
The athlete of prayer must not let himself be shaken. He must oppose imagination with the continuous invocation of the
name of Jesus, and he must be concentrated within the words of the Jesus prayer. He must stand bravely in the
conciseness of the Jesus prayer. He must not think of anything during prayer, either of wrong or even good works...
Elder Ephraim of Katounakia (source)
Many times the devil, he continued, appears and talks to the athlete of prayer. He challenges him and tries to open a
dialogue with him. Sometimes he blames the athlete, sometimes he praises him, sometimes he scoffs at him, sometimes he
interprets certain acts wrongly. The inexperienced in this spiritual contest start talking with the devil and answer his
questions and his assaults. However, this is an error, especially for the beginners, because the inexperienced in these
situations are defeated even if it seems that the devil was put to flight by their replies. Confusion and fear remain. And
later, when they recall this scene and all that was said, they will be shaken and troubled. The Fathers recommend that
those who do not have the experience and the necessary strength should not answer. They must be indifferent to the devil
and despise him. They must do the same in the war against their thoughts. Thus contempt against the devil and
perseverance in the Jesus prayer are needed...
(source)
The best prayer is the one you say with your own words. Reading a prayer is not enough. For example, before receiving Holy Communion we read the Service of Preparation for Holy Communion, ‘From lips tainted and defiled, from heart unclean and loathsome…’, sometimes without even understanding the words. You yourself should pray with your own words. Then you will understand what you are saying to God. This prayer has great power; great power indeed!
Elder Ephraim placed great importance on the Mystery of Confession
and on obedience to the confessor, even for laymen.
Particularly we remember that he told us, '' For whoever kneels even just once
under the stole of the priest, divine Providence will arrange things in such
a way that Christ will finally gain him. ''
Obedience is Life - Elder Ephraim of Katounakia
Icon of the Blessed Elder Ephraim of Katounakia (source)
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!
