Cloud of Witnesses
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Hierarch14th century

Saint Ephraim the Bulgarian Patriarch of Serbia

c. 1312 – 14 June 1400

Also known as Ephraim of Serbia · Јефрем Српски · Jefrem

A Bulgarian-born Athonite ascetic who was twice called against his will to the patriarchal throne of Serbia, and who twice withdrew again into the silence he loved.

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Commemorated as

Our Father among the Saints Ephraim, Patriarch of Serbia

Life

Ephraim of Serbia (Serbian: Јефрем; c. 1312 – 1400) was a Bulgarian-born ascetic and Athonite monk who served twice as Patriarch of Serbia, on each occasion withdrawing again into the solitary life he preferred. Born around 1312 into a family of priestly, Bulgarian origin, he embraced monastic life around 1335 at about the age of twenty-three.

He traveled to Mount Athos, where he lived first at the Hilandar monastery and then at Zograf, devoting himself to hesychastic asceticism in the Athonite mountains. Around 1347 he left Athos to serve as hegumen on an island in the Maritsa river near Plovdiv, before eventually settling in Serbia at the Patriarchate of Peć and in a cave-church near the monastery of Visoki Dečani.

Twice called against his will to the patriarchal throne of Serbia, he twice renounced it to return to ascetic seclusion. He died on the evening of 14 June 1400 and was buried at the Patriarchate of Peć. He is commemorated on June 15.

Troparion1 hymnReadHide
TroparionTone 4

In truth you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith,
an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence;
your humility exalted you;
your poverty enriched you.
Hierarch Father Ephraim,
entreat Christ our God
that our souls may be saved.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline8 momentsReadHide
  1. c. 1312BirthBorn into a family of priestly, Bulgarian origin.
  2. c. 1335Enters monastic lifeAt about the age of twenty-three he embraces the monastic life.
  3. Mount AthosAthonite asceticismLives at Hilandar and then Zograf, practicing hesychastic asceticism in the Athonite mountains.
  4. c. 1347Hegumen near PlovdivLeaves Athos to serve as hegumen on an island in the Maritsa river near Plovdiv, before relocating to the Patriarchate of Peć in Serbia.
  5. 1375–1379First patriarchateSucceeds Patriarch Sava IV, installed October 3, 1375; resigns in 1379.
  6. 1389–1392Second patriarchateRecalled to the throne after the death of Patriarch Spiridon; resigns again in 1392 to return to ascetic life.
  7. 14 June 1400ReposeDies in the evening and is buried at the Patriarchate of Peć monastery.
  8. 1406/1407GlorificationProclaimed a saint by Patriarch Sava V, seven summers after his repose.

Contributions & Legacy

3 contributionsReadHide

Ascetic Life

After entering monastic life around 1335, Ephraim made his way to Mount Athos, the center of Orthodox monasticism. There he resided at the Hilandar monastery before moving to Zograf, pursuing hesychastic asceticism in the Athonite mountains.

Around 1347 he departed Athos to become hegumen on an island in the Maritsa river near Plovdiv. He later relocated to Serbia, attaching himself to the Patriarchate of Peć monastery, where he inhabited a cave-church near Visoki Dečani and continued the contemplative life he loved.

Twice Patriarch of Serbia

Ephraim was elevated to the patriarchal throne of Serbia twice, each time reluctantly. His first tenure ran from 1375 to 1379; he succeeded Patriarch Sava IV and was installed on October 3, 1375. After resigning, he was again called to the office from 1389 to 1392, following the death of Patriarch Spiridon.

According to one tradition recorded in the Synaxis of the Holy Serbian Hierarchs, Ephraim crowned Prince Lazarus of Serbia before later leaving the patriarchate to live in solitude. He voluntarily renounced the throne on both occasions in order to return to ascetic life, his second resignation occurring in 1392.

Legacy

Ephraim was a renowned poet who left behind a substantial body of original verse, preserved in a fourteenth-century manuscript from Hilandar. He was proclaimed a saint by Patriarch Sava V in 1406 or 1407, described in the hagiographic sources as occurring seven summers after his repose. Bishop Marko composed both the 'Service to St. Jefrem' and the 'Life of St. Jefrem.'

His name is included among the Holy Serbian Hierarchs commemorated collectively, and his feast is kept on June 15 (June 15/28), where the OCA calendar lists him alongside Right-believing Prince Lazarus of Serbia.

Works & Further ReadingReadHide

Notable Works

  • Collected poetry of Patriarch Jefrem — A substantial body of original poetry, preserved in a fourteenth-century manuscript of the Hilandar monastery on Mount Athos.
Member ofReadHide
Synaxis of the Serbian Hierarchs
Commemorated together · Aug 30
Companions2 figuresShowHide
Prince of Serbia whom, by tradition, he crowned before withdrawing into solitude.
Right-believing Prince LazarGreat Martyr of Serbia
His successor as patriarch of Serbia, whom he consecrated.
Saint SpyridonPatriarch of Serbia
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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephraim_of_Serbia; https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ephraem_of_Pec