The hopes of those who have left the world




Prayers that St. Ephraim the Syrian offered up to God.


Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian 

O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despondency, lust for power and idle talk. (full prostration) But grant unto me, Your servant, a spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love. (full prostration) Thus, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults and not to judge my brothers and sisters. For You are blessed unto the ages of ages. Amen. (full prostration) O God, cleanse me, a sinner (12 times, with bows from the waist) (Read the entire prayer through once more from the beginning, followed by a full prostration.)


6 The hopes of those who have left the world.


The son of Jesse tunes his pipe and sings: blessed are the blameless who follow in the way of the Lord, who walk in His Law. And our Savior said in the Gospel of life: blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God; blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted; blessed are they who weep, for they shall rejoice.


To those who renounce the world and its vain things, who scorn its lusts and abhor its comforts, is given a promise of recompense in the Gospel of salvation--an everlasting habitation and eternal life.


Out of love for their Lord they have left their families in this world, their parents, their wealth and their possessions; for they heard that blessed are the poor in spirit. And in return for this the heavenly kingdom awaits them.


They have made their bodies into a temple of the Holy Spirit; by their strict way of life they have overcome lusts, they have borne the yoke of strenuous labor; out of love for their Lord they have despised their own life.


They have crucified their souls and nailed their bodies to the cross, and by their ascetic labors have they moved their Creator to mercy.


They have disdained the desires of the flesh and loved restraint. They have driven away the corruptions of the flesh and loved chastity.


They have chosen for themselves affliction and all manner of privation and have despised rest.


They have shed pride and clothed themselves in humility.


They have conquered the enemy and triumphed over him. They have put him to flight and acquired glory for themselves. They have conquered him and they are magnified. They have scorned him and they are crowned.


The Father loves them, and with love the Son embraces them, and the Holy Spirit abides in their pure bodies.


Christ calls to them, saying: come, ye who labored in My name, enter the habitation, from whence those who are called do not go out.


On such as these does the Lord bestow crowns, and they taste bliss in His habitations in place of the sorrows which they bore with Him from morning til night.


The heavenly kingdom awaits those who have gained victory in warfare and have thus acquired glory.


It is habitual for the angels to descend and fortify warriors during battle.


The spirits rush to meet the victors. They call them blessed and say: come, ye who are troubled, and rest from your labors: by your patience in suffering have ye conquered the evil one.


Paradise opens its gates to them; they abide in dwellings of light and there they find repose.


In their mouth is a song of glory and praise to Him Who strengthened them in battle.


Prayer of Saint Ephrem the Syrian


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