Ephraim of Pereyaslavl
Encyclopedia
Saint Ephraim of Pereyaslav, also Saint Ephraim of the Caves or Saint Ephraim, Bishop of Pereslav - Eastern Orthodox saint
, bishop
of Pereyaslav (now Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi
, Ukraine
).
Before his tonsure into monasticism
, was treasurer and steward of household affairs (1054–1068) at the court of the Iziaslav Yaroslavich the Grand Prince of Kiev. Weighed down by this noisy and bustling life and wishing to become a monk, he was accepted by Saint Anthony of Kiev and was tonsured (March 23) by Saint Nikon the Chronicler, then the Hegumen
of the Kiev Monastery of the Caves.
The enraged Iziaslav demanded that Ephraim return, threatening to lock him up in prison and to destroy the Kiev Monastery of the Caves (the Pechersk Lavra). St Anthony and the brethren left the monastery and decided to go to another place. Iziaslav, however, feared the wrath of God
. He took his wife's advice and withdrew his forces from the monastery in disgrace.
Ephraim wished to go on pilgrimage
to the holy places abroad. With the blessing of St Anthony, he journeyed to Constantinople
and settled there in one of the monasteries. While in Constantinople, Ephraim made a copy of the Studite monastic rule, and took it to Kiev
at the request of Theodosius of Kiev
. As soon as he received the Rule, Theodosius implemented it in his monastery (the Pechersk Lavra).
After the year 1072 Ephraim was made bishop in Pereslav, with the title of Metropolitan
. He adorned Pereslav with many beautiful churches and public buildings, and he built stone walls around the city in the Greek manner. He built free hospices for the poor and travelers, and constructed several public bath-houses.
In the year 1091, Ephraim participated in the opening and solemn transfer of the relics of St Theodosius. A Life of St Ephraim existed in former times, but it has not survived. We find an account of him both in the Life of St Theodosius, and in the Russian Chronicles. A tale and encomium for St Nicholas the Wonderworker is ascribed to Ephraim.
Ephraim died in the year 1098. He was buried in the Church of the Presentation in the Near Caves
of the Kiev Monastery of the Caves.
His memory is also celebrated on January 28, September 28 and on the second Sunday of Great Lent.
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
, bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Pereyaslav (now Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi
Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi
Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi is a town located where Alta River flows into Trubizh River in the Kiev Oblast in central Ukraine. Serving as the administrative center of the Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi Raion , the town itself is also designated as a separate raion within the oblast...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
).
Before his tonsure into monasticism
Monasticism
Monasticism is a religious way of life characterized by the practice of renouncing worldly pursuits to fully devote one's self to spiritual work...
, was treasurer and steward of household affairs (1054–1068) at the court of the Iziaslav Yaroslavich the Grand Prince of Kiev. Weighed down by this noisy and bustling life and wishing to become a monk, he was accepted by Saint Anthony of Kiev and was tonsured (March 23) by Saint Nikon the Chronicler, then the Hegumen
Hegumen
Hegumen, hegumenos, igumen, or ihumen is the title for the head of a monastery of the Eastern Orthodox Church or Eastern Catholic Churches, similar to the one of abbot. The head of a convent of nuns is called hegumenia or ihumenia . The term means "the one who is in charge", "the leader" in...
of the Kiev Monastery of the Caves.
The enraged Iziaslav demanded that Ephraim return, threatening to lock him up in prison and to destroy the Kiev Monastery of the Caves (the Pechersk Lavra). St Anthony and the brethren left the monastery and decided to go to another place. Iziaslav, however, feared the wrath of God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
. He took his wife's advice and withdrew his forces from the monastery in disgrace.
Ephraim wished to go on pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
to the holy places abroad. With the blessing of St Anthony, he journeyed to Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
and settled there in one of the monasteries. While in Constantinople, Ephraim made a copy of the Studite monastic rule, and took it to Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
at the request of Theodosius of Kiev
Theodosius of Kiev
Theodosius of Kiev is an 11th century saint who brought Cenobitic Monasticism to Kievan Rus' and, together with St Anthony of Kiev, founded the Kiev Caves Lavra...
. As soon as he received the Rule, Theodosius implemented it in his monastery (the Pechersk Lavra).
After the year 1072 Ephraim was made bishop in Pereslav, with the title of Metropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
. He adorned Pereslav with many beautiful churches and public buildings, and he built stone walls around the city in the Greek manner. He built free hospices for the poor and travelers, and constructed several public bath-houses.
In the year 1091, Ephraim participated in the opening and solemn transfer of the relics of St Theodosius. A Life of St Ephraim existed in former times, but it has not survived. We find an account of him both in the Life of St Theodosius, and in the Russian Chronicles. A tale and encomium for St Nicholas the Wonderworker is ascribed to Ephraim.
Ephraim died in the year 1098. He was buried in the Church of the Presentation in the Near Caves
Near Caves
The Near Caves or the Caves of Saint Anthony are historic caves and a network of tunnels of the medieval cave monastery of Kiev Pechersk Lavra in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine...
of the Kiev Monastery of the Caves.
His memory is also celebrated on January 28, September 28 and on the second Sunday of Great Lent.