Feast Day of Ss Ephrem and Isaac
Categories: family, feast-days
Date: 28 January 2009 01:05:01
And the fourth birthday of my eldest niece Skye! I still cannot believe she is 4. I called her today and she told me she now had a black and yellow tennis racquet and green tennis balls. She asked me if I had one and upon hearing my "Yes" she said I needed to speak to mummy to tell her -- so I was given to my sister. Upon being handed back to Skye she said we could play tennis, but not like on the television [she has seen a bit of the Australian Open]. I certainly cannot hit as hard, or play anywhere near as well, as them anyway, so I am glad her expectations are low! I will see her tonight, dropping by to give my presents of some books and a kid's construction set [she loves putting things together and building].
Today is also the Feast Day of two of my most beloved Saints, whose prayers and help I earnestly seek. Both titled, "the Syrian", Ss Ephrem [+ ~373] and Isaac [+ ~700] are therefore "Eastern Christians", and Syrian Eastern Christians, and I have found a fascinating emphasis and style in their writings and hymns. With St Ephrem, imagery and types [events/persons in the Old Testament foreshadowing and being types and images of those in the New] play a central role and he has many wonderful descriptions and wonderful relatings of the Old to the New. An example is a hymn on Abraham and Isaac which can be found at the Anastasis site; here are a few verses:
Therefore he brought
the ram from a rock
that by this means
the marvel might be assured,
Because everything
that is ordained
by the will of his divinity
is instantly realised.
So, as there the word
brought a sheep into being,
so in the Virgin
the Word became flesh.
And as the sheep
was bound to the plant,
so the Only-Begotten
was nailed to a Cross.
Isaac the Syrian, or Isaac of of Nineveh as he is also known, is well-known for his sermons and writings on the inner life. One I particularly take heart in is:
A handful of sand, thrown into the sea, is what sinning is, when compared to God’s Providence and mercy. Just like an abundant source of water is not impeded by a handful of dust, so does the Creator’s mercy not defeated by the sins of His creations.
A blessed Feast Day to any Ephrems and Isaacs; and through the prayers of our Holy Fathers Ss Ephrem and Isaac, may the Lord have mercy on us and save us.