Icon of Elder Ephraim of Arizona, with scenes from his life (source)
"From an early age, the two nuns met with Geronda Ephraim and Saint Porphyrios. "Oftentimes, Geronda [Ephraim] asked us to ask St. Porphyrios for his opinion. [She] remembers the words of St. Porphyrios: "The charisma of the Great Geronda is such that the missionary work for which God called upon him in America will receive the grace of Early Christianity..."
"St. Porphyrios once called [a spiritual child of Elder Ephraim] and told her: "I'm very envious of Geronda Ephraim, because he has surpassed in his humility the entire calendar of the saints of our Church. I'm stuck here in a bed, and they make me out to be a saint. But Geronda Ephraim is very smart. He has made an agreement with God, that no one will understand who he is until he dies. And after his repose, then you will be overcome by fear at what you had next to you, and didn't know it."
-St. Porphyrios on the Work of Elder Ephraim of Arizona (source)
Note: This coming week brings the feast of All Saints of America, along with the feast of the Nativity of the Precious Forerunner, which was also the birthday of Elder of Ephraim. The icons and hymns included in this post were created from various people out of love and thanksgiving to the Lord for Elder Ephraim of Arizona, who recently reposed in the Lord. Though this is very early to be writing icons and hymns in honor of him, this is not without precedent. St. Savas of Kalymnos, after the repose of St. Nektarios, locked himself in his cell for 40 days of prayer and contemplation, and after 40 days, exited the cell, having written the first icon of the Saint, knowing his great sanctity. This full service to St. Paisios the Athonite was written only one year after his repose, and the full service to St. Porphyrios was written and published only 7 years after his repose in the Lord, out of the great love of those who were benefited by them, and the clear indication in the hearts of the faithful of the holiness granted them by the Lord. As is widely known, the recognition of Saints in the Orthodox Church begins in the hearts of the faithful, who perceive the blessings given by Christ to the Saints who have reposed, and, with spiritual guidance, they slowly begin to not only pray for their repose, but also to honor them and ask for their prayers. Formal canonization occurs years later by the Church, as a seal of acceptance of the love and devotion of the faithful and the blessings of God.
This is included not to scandalize anyone, and if I do so, I ask your forgiveness. I include these only for the private devotional use (and of course with great discernment and at the discretion of one's spiritual guide) for those who have been benefited from Elder Ephraim's writings, his monasteries, his example, and his prayers to the Lord, and for those who may continue to ask of his prayers, as he is undoubtedly before the throne of God with all His Saints, continuing to pray on behalf of this greatly afflicted world.
Detail of the above icon of Elder Ephraim of Arizona (source)
Ύμνους εις τον Όσιο Εφραίμ της Αριζόνας
Δρ Χαραλάμπης Μ. Μπούσιας, Μέγας Υμνογράφος της των Αλεξανδρέων Εκκλησίας
Δρ Χαραλάμπης Μ. Μπούσιας, Μέγας Υμνογράφος της των Αλεξανδρέων Εκκλησίας
Απολυτίκιον. Ήχος πλ. α΄. Τον συνάναρχον Λόγον.
Αγωγή ισαγγέλω, ευχή και δάκρυσιν, ευαρεστήσας Κυρίω, Φιλοθεΐτα Εφραίμ, προς ζωήν εκ του θανάτου μεταβέβηκας εν Αριζόντι, ασκητά, ο εν τη Αμερική εικάδος Μονών δομήτωρ,
και χάριν εύρες πρεσβεύειν υπέρ των πίστει ευφημούντων σε.
και χάριν εύρες πρεσβεύειν υπέρ των πίστει ευφημούντων σε.
Κοντάκιον. Ήχος πλ. δ΄. Τη Υπερμάχω.
Τον καινιστήν Αγιωνύμου Όρους μέλψωμεν, Αμερικής ως νεαυγή ιεραπόστολον και Μονών εικάδος κτίτορα ευσχημόνως, Αριζόνος αγιάσαντα την έρημον, προσευχής καρδιακής, Εφραίμ, και νήψεως άστρον, κράζοντες· Χαίροις, Πάτερ παγκόσμιε.
Μεγαλυνάριον.
Χαίροις, Φιλοθέου ο προεστώς Μάνδρας, Αριζόνος και εικάδος Αμερικής, ασκητά, Σεμνείων, Εφραίμ πνευματοφόρε, δομήτωρ, Αποστόλων θείων ομόζηλε.
Elder Ephraim of Arizona (+2019) (source)
Selected Hymns in honor of Elder Ephraim of Arizona,
translated from the original Greek hymns, written by Dr. Charalampos Bousias, the Great Hymnographer of the Patriarchate of Alexandria.
Apolytikion in the Plagal of the First Tone. Let us worship the Word.
Through the way of your life, and your prayer and many tears, * you equaled Angels, and you were most pleasing unto the Lord, * and proceeded after death unto eternal life, * from Arizona, O Ephraim, * Philotheou's great ascetic, founding many monasteries, * and as one having found grace, * you intercede for those who praise you with faith.
Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone. O Champion General.
The Holy Mountain's great renewer, let us praise with hymns, * and missionary newly-shining to America, * and the noble founder of many monasteries, * O star of nepsis and the prayer of Jesus of the heart, * who brought holiness to Arizona's desert land, * let us cry aloud: Rejoice, O universal Father.
Megalynarion.
Rejoice, Philotheou's monastic guide, * who, in Arizona and America, didst build * many monasteries, adornment of ascetics, * O Spirit-bearing Ephraim, * of the Apostles, equal zeal.
(source)
Icon of Elder Ephraim of Arizona (source)
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!
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