Ephrem of Edessa

Edessa (now Urfa), a city in modern Turkey about 100 kilometers from Antioch (now Antakya), was a an early center for the spread of Christian teaching in the East. It is said that in 325 Ephrem accompanied his bishop, Jacob of Nisibis, to the Council of Nicea, where the question of Christ's nature and personhood was settled by the adoption of the Nicene Creed. That is, Jesus Christ is "begotten, not made, of one being with the Father." Although fully human, Christ is not a creature among creatures of God's creation; He has been with the Father from the beginning. He is fully divine.

Ephrem's writings are an eloquent defense of the Nicene faith in the Deity of Jesus Christ. He countered a Gnostic practice of spreading their message through popular songs by composing Christian songs and hymns of his own, with great effect. He is known to the Syrian church as "the harp of the Holy Spirit."

From God Christ's deity came forth
his manhood from humanity
his priesthood from Melchizedek
his royalty from David's tree:
praised be his Oneness.
He joined with guests at wedding feast
yet in the wilderness did fast
he taught within the temple's gates
his people saw him die at last:
praised be his teaching.
The dissolute he did not scorn
nor turn from those who were in sin
he for the righteous did rejoice
but bade the fallen to come in:
praised be his mercy.
He did not disregard the sick
to simple ones his word was given
and he descended to the earth
and his work done went up to heaven:
praised be his coming....
by Ephrem of Edessa, translated by John Howard Rhys, adapted and altered by F Bland Tucker, (Episcopal) Hymnbook 1982.
Parts of the above come from http://www.missionstclare.com/english/people/jun10.html.

Note how this fine hymn interweaves theology, teaching about Jesus' prophesied Messiahship, his ministry and might acts.

Ephrem retired to a cave outside Edessa, where he lived in great simplicity and devoted himself to writing. A picture of him shows a serene white-beard sitting beneath a tree holding manuscript papers. The Holy Spirit in the form of a dove beams down on him, and he has an angel on either side.

Would that this be so here in my messy office today.