ADVENT TIP OF THE DAY 19: Ephrem the Syrian hymns on the incarnation

MJ. Smith
MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 53,396
edited December 18 in English Forum

I am adding these posts to the previous tip list L/V 10 Tip of the Day 

QUESTION: What current liturgical use do the hymns of Ephrem the Syrian, Prudentius, and Romanos the Melodist enjoy?

ANSWER: from Perplexity:

The hymns of Ephrem the Syrian, Prudentius, and Romanos the Melodist continue to have significant liturgical use in various Christian traditions today:

Ephrem the Syrian

Ephrem's hymns remain an important part of Syriac Christian liturgy:

His hymns are still used in the liturgical services of Syriac churches.

The poetic style and theological depth of Ephrem's hymns made them extremely effective for catechesis and continue to be valued for this purpose.

Prudentius

Several of Prudentius' hymns have been incorporated into Western Christian liturgies:

Hymn IX, "Corde natus ex Parentis," is included in Lutheran hymnals.

Four short hymns assembled from Prudentius' longer works were introduced into the Roman Breviary in 1568 by Pope Pius V and continue to be used.

The hymn "Earth has many a noble city" in the Episcopal Hymnal 1982 is derived from Prudentius' work.

Romanos the Melodist

Romanos' hymns remain a vital part of Eastern Orthodox liturgy:

Verses from some of Romanos' hymns have been incorporated into the regular cycle of liturgical hymn-singing in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

The Prooemion and first Ikos of Kontakion 22 are still used in the Orthodox Church on the Third Sunday in Lent.

The Akathist Hymn, attributed to Romanos, is one of the most beloved devotional services in the Eastern Church and is still used liturgically, especially during Lent.

These ancient hymnographers continue to shape Christian worship across various traditions, demonstrating the enduring power and relevance of their poetic and theological contributions.1

QUESTION: What are themes in Hymns on the Incarnation by Ephrem the Syrian?

ANSWER: from Perplexity:

Ephrem the Syrian, a prominent 4th-century Christian theologian and hymnographer, composed several hymns on the Incarnation. These hymns beautifully express the mystery of Christ's divine and human nature.

Hymns on the Incarnation

Ephrem's hymns on the Incarnation are rich in imagery and theological depth. Here's a summary of key themes and excerpts:

Divine and Human Nature

Ephrem emphasizes the union of divinity and humanity in Christ:

"Glorious is the Wise One Who allied and joined

Divinity with humanity,

one from the height and the other from the depth.

He mingled the natures like pigments

and an image came into being: the God-man."

Redemption and Reconciliation

The hymns highlight Christ's role in reconciling humanity with God:

"Blessed is the Messenger who came bearing

a great peace. By the mercy of His Father,

He lowered Himself to us. Our own debts

He did not take up to Him. He reconciled

[His] Lordship with His chattels."

Paradox of the Incarnation

Ephrem marvels at the paradox of the eternal God becoming an infant:

"Who indeed has seen the Babe Who is more ancient

than His bearer? The Ancient One entered

and became young in her. He emerged an infant

and grew by her milk."

Imagery of Garment and Temple

Ephrem uses the metaphors of garment and temple to describe the Incarnation:

"The Son of the Most High came and dwelt in me, and I became His Mother; and as by a second birth I brought Him forth so did He bring me forth by the second birth, because He put His Mother's garments on, she clothed her body with His glory."

These hymns not only express deep theological truths but also serve as beautiful works of devotion, inviting believers to contemplate the mystery of the Incarnation2.

QUESTION: List some works by Ephrem the Syrian available in Logos/Verbum.

ANSWER: from my library:

Ephrem the Syrian. A Spiritual Psalter or Reflections on God. Translated by Isaac E. Lambertsen and Antonina Janda. Liberty, TN: The St. John of Kronstadt Press, 2004.

Ephrem the Syrian. Ephrem the Syrian: Hymns. Edited by Bernard McGinn. Translated by Kathleen E. McVey. The Classics of Western Spirituality. New York; Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1989.

Ephrem the Syrian. Select Metrical Hymns and Homilies of Ephraem Syrus. Translated by Henry Burgess. London; Berlin: Robert B. Blackader; Sampson Low, Son and Co.; Asher and Co., 1853.

Ephrem the Syrian. St. Ephrem the Syrian: Selected Prose Works. Edited by Thomas P. Halton and Kathleen McVey. Translated by Edward G. Mathews Jr. and Joseph P. Amar. Vol. 91. The Fathers of the Church. Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 2004.

Harris, J. Rendel with Ephrem the Syrian. Fragments of the Commentary of Ephrem Syrus upon the Diatessaron. London: C. J. Clay and Sons, 1895.

Mitchell, C. W. S. Ephraim’s Prose Refutations of Mani, Marcion, and Bardaisan. Vol. 1. London; Oxford: Williams and Norgate, 1912.

Mitchell, C. W. S. Ephraim’s Prose Refutations of Mani, Marcion, and Bardaisan. Vol. 1. London; Oxford: Williams and Norgate, 1912.

Mitchell, C. W., A. A. Bevan, and F. C. Burkitt. S. Ephraim’s Prose Refutations of Mani, Marcion, and Bardaisan. Vol. 2. London; Oxford: Williams and Norgate, 1921.

Mitchell, C. W., A. A. Bevan, and F. C. Burkitt. S. Ephraim’s Prose Refutations of Mani, Marcion, and Bardaisan. Vol. 2. London; Oxford: Williams and Norgate, 1921.

S. Ephrem the Syrian. Select Works of St. Ephrem the Syrian. Translated by J. B. Morris. Rhythms of St. Ephrem the Syrian. Oxford; London: John Henry Parker; F. and J. Rivington, 1847.

St Ephrem. Hymns on Paradise. Translated by Sebastian Brock. Popular Patristics Series. Crestwood, NY: St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1990.

St. Ephrem the Syrian. St. Ephrem the Syrian: Songs for the Fast and Pascha. Translated by Joshua Falconer, Blake Hartung, and J. Edward Walters. Vol. 145. The Fathers of the Church. Washington, D.C.: The Catholic University of America Press, 2022.

St. Ephrem the Syrian. The Hymns on Faith. Translated by Jeffrey T. Wickes. Vol. 130. The Fathers of the Church. Washington, D.C.: The Catholic University of America Press, 2015.

1 and https://denverjournal.denverseminary.edu/the-denver-journal-article/hymns-of-prudentius-the-cathemerinon-or-the-daily-round/ and and https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/st-ephrem-6351 and and https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-romanos-melodist-akathist-hymn/ and and https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/liturgy-and-the-emotions-in-byzantium/romanos-the-melodist/F98CB65F66EE56D1C96F2336678F6D5D and and https://thepocketscroll.wordpress.com/2022/10/02/st-romanos-the-melodist/

2 and https://orthodoxchristiantheology.com/2020/12/02/ephrem-the-syrians-hymns-on-paradise-highlights/ and and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephrem_the_Syrianhttps://hugoye.bethmardutho.org/article/hv21n2arlen http://chantblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/hymns-of-prudentius-translated-by-r.html http://chantblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/hymns-of-prudentius-translated-by-r.html https://jnjr.div.ed.ac.uk/primary-sources/rabbinic/st-ephrem-ephrem-the-syrian-c-306-373-ce-anti-jewish-hymns/ https://jnjr.div.ed.ac.uk/primary-sources/rabbinic/st-ephrem-ephrem-the-syrian-c-306-373-ce-anti-jewish-hymns/

Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."