Links and Bibliography

Ephraim Graecus – A List of Works
Roger Pearse has graciously collated the information from the Thesaurus Linguae Graecae, the Clavis Patrum Graecorum, and the editions of Ephrem Graecus by K.G. Phrantzolas to make a comprehensive and easy to use list of the works attributed to St. Ephrem in Greek. With this list, one is able to locate and identify texts across the three major resources for studying the Greek Ephrem. Click the link above to find texts and translations of St. Ephrem in Greek.

Below you will find links and a bibliography organized as follows:

1. Editions
2. Translations
3. Bibliographies
4. Related Websites
5. Scholarship on Ephrem Graecus

1. Editions

Assemani, G. Sancti patris nostri Ephraem Syri Opera omnia quae exstant Graece, Syriace, Latine. Rome, 1732-1746.

Held, S. “Zwei an den Enkainien der Jerusalemer Grabeskirche gehaltene Predigten des griechischen Ephräm.” Oriens Christianus 84 (2000): 1-22.

Mercati, S.G. S. Ephraem Syri opera, textum syriacum graecum latinum ad fidem codicum recensuit, prolegomenis notis indicibus instruxit. T. I, Fasc. 1: Sermones in Abraham et Isaac, in Basilium Magnum, in Eliam. Monumenta Biblica et Ecclesiastica 1. Roma: Pontifical Biblical Institute, 1915.  (I) (II) (III).
Review: P. Maas, Byzantinische Zeitschrift 23 (1914-1919): 451-452.

Phrantzolas, K.G. Ὁσίου Ἐφραίμ τοῦ Σύρου ἔργα. 7 Vols. Thessalonica: Perivoli tis Panagias, 1988-1998. (Texts available here.)

Strothmann, W. Schriften des Makarios/Symeon unter dem Namen des Ephraem. Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz, 1981. [=CPG 3959, 3961, 3992–3, 4032–3, 4035, 4048]

Thwaites, E. S. Ephraim Syrus graece e codicibus mss. Bodleianis. Oxford, 1709.

Vossius, G. Sancti Ephraem Syri, Patris et Scriptoris Ecclesiae antiquissimi et dignissimi, opera omnia quotquot in insignioribus Italiae Bibliothecis, praecipue è Romanis, Graece inveniri potuerunt, in tres tomos digesta, nunc recens Latinitate donata, scholiisque illustrata. Rome: Tornerius, 1589-1598: (vol. 1) (vol. 2) (vol. 3); Second edition, Cologne: Quentelius, 1603: (vol. 1) (vol. 2) (vol. 3). Third edition, 1616 (vols. 1-3). Reprinted, Antwerp: Keerbergius, 1619 (vols. 1-3); Cologne: Friessis, 1675 (vols. 1-3). Modern reprint: Gorgias Press.

2. Translations and Versions

LATIN

Fischer (Piscator), Kilian. Libri Sancti Effremi. Freiburg im Breisgau, 1491.

Traversari, Ambrosius (Camaldulensis). Sermones ingeniosissimi ac sanctissimi patris Ephrem Edissene ecclesie dyaconi per fratrem Ambrosium Camaldulensem de greco in latinum converti. Florence, 1481; Brescia, 1490; Venice: De Pensiis, 1501; Petit, 1505; Schürerius, 1509.

SLAVONIC

Bojkovsky, G. Parainesis: Die altbulgarische Übersetzung von Werken Ephraims des Syrers. Vol. 1. Freiburg: Breisgau, 1984.

Ilinskij, G.A. Македонский глаголический листок. Отрывок глаголического текста Ефрема Сирина XI века. St. Petersburg, 1909.

Творения иже во святых Отца нашего Ефрема Сирина. Москва: типография А. И. Снегиревой, 1895: vol. 1. Second edition, Сергиев Посад: Типография Св.-Тр. Сергиевой Лавры, 1900; 1907; 1912: vol. 1; vol. 2; vol. 3; vol. 4; vol. 5; vol. 6.

ENGLISH

A Serious Exhortation to Repentance and Sorrow for Sin, and a Strict and Mortified Life. London: W. Bowyer, 1731.

Constas, Maximos. Mother of the Light: Prayers to the Mother of God. Columbia, MO: Newrome Press, 2019.

Theophan the Recluse. A Spiritual Psalter, Or Reflections On God: Arranged In the Manner of the Psalms of David. Trans. I. Lambertsen and A. Janda. Liberty, TN: St. John of Kronstadt Press, 2004.

ROMANIAN

Isaac, Hieromonk. Sfântul Efrem Sirul: Cuvinte şi învăţături. 3 vols. Neamţ, 1818-1823; reprinted Bacău: Editura Bunavestre, 1997-2013.

Stuparu, Florin, ed. Rugăciunile Sfîntului Efrem Sirul. Bucharest: Editura Cartea Ortodoxă [Reprint of Neamt: 1818].

ITALIAN

Neri, A. Due sermoni e la laudazione de Iosef di Santo Effrem. Bologna: Romagnoli, 1867.

3. Bibliographies

Geerard, M. “Ephraem Graecus.” Clavis patrum graecorum 2. Turnhout: Brepols, 1974. Pp. 227-250.

_____. “Ephraem Graecus.” Clavis patrum graecorum: Supplementum. Turnhout: Brepols, 1998. Pp. 366-46.

Dekkers, E., and E. Gaar. Clavis patrum latinorum. Steenbrugis: Brepols, 1995. Pp. 373-376.

St. Ephrem: A Brief Guide to the Main Editions and Translations

Syri.ac/ephrem (An annotated bibliography of Syriac resources: Ephrem page)

4. Related Websites

Homepage of Fr. Ephrem Lash (archived)

Manuscripts of Ephraem Latinus: Monastic Manuscript Project

5. Scholarship on Ephraem Graecus

Amar, J.P. ”Byzantine Ascetic Monasticism and Greek Bias in the Vita Tradition of Eprem the Syrian.” Orientalia Christiana Periodica 58.1-2 (1992): 123-156.

Antonakos, A. “The Early Christian Passion Cycle: Word, Raza and Emotion.” PhD Dissertation, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 2009.

Badwi, A. “The Iconography of Saint Ephrem.” The Harp 23 (2008): 247-256.

Bady, G. ”Une nouvelle pièce à ranger dans le corpus de l’“Éphrem grec”? L’homélie pseudochrysostomienne Sur la contrition et la continence (CPG 5062).’ Sacris Erudiri 53 (2014): 209-233.

Bailly, L. ”Une traduction latine d’un sermon d’Éphrem dans le Clm 3516.” Sacris Erudiri 21 (1972): 71-80.

Bakker, W.F. ‘Ephraem the Syrian’s’ Θρῆνoς τῆς Θεoτόκoυ: What? When? Where? Why? Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies 29 (2005): 17-38.

Bakker, W.F. and D.M.L. Philippides. “The Lament of the Virgin by Ephraem the Syrian.” In S. Kaklamanis et al., eds. Ἐνθὐμησις Νικολάου Μ. Παναγιωτάκη. Crete: Πανεπιστημιακές Εκδόσεις Κρήτης, 2000.

Beck, E. “Asketentum und Monchtum bei Ephraem.” Orientalia Christiana Periodica 153 (1958): 341-62.

Botha, Ph.J. “Orthodox Ventriloquism in the Pseudo-Ephremic Sermon on Palm Sunday.” Journal of Early Christian History 3.2 (2013): 21-33.

Brock, S.P. “Ephrem’s Verse Homily on Jonah and the Repentance of Nineveh: Notes on the Textual Tradition.” In A. Schoors and P. van Deun, eds., Philohistôr: Miscellanea in Honorem Caroli Laga Septuagenarii. Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta 60 (Leuven: Peeters, 1994), 71-86.

_____. From Ephrem to Romanos: Interactions Between Syriac and Greek in Late Antiquity. Variorum Collected Studies Series 664. Aldershot: Ashgate, 1999.

_____. “The Changing Faces of St Ephrem as Read in the West.” In J. Behr, A. Louth, and D. Conomos, eds. Abba: The Tradition of Orthodoxy in the West. Crestwood: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2003.Pp. 65-80.

_____. “Syriac and Greek Hymnography: Problems of Origin.” Studia Patristica 16 (1985): 77-81.

Cassin, M., and P. Géhin. «Une collection de chapitres ascétiques tirés de l’œuvre d’Éphrem, avec une annexe sur les Chapitres tirés des Lettres de Barsanuphe et Jean de Gaza.» Revue des Études Byzantines 74 (2016): 223-267.

Corcella, A. “L’uso di Coricio in Pseudo-Gregorio di Nissa, In sanctum Ephræm.” Analecta Bollandiana 124.2 (2006): 241-251.

Crowell, T.F. “The Biblical Homilies of Ephraem Graecus.” PhD Dissertation, Catholic University of America, 2016.

De Halleux, André. “A propos du sermon éphrémien sur Jonas et la penitence des Ninivites,” in Regine Schulz and Manfred Görg, eds. Lingua Restituta Orientalis: Festgabe für Julius Assfalg. Ägypten und Altes Testament 20. Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowtiz, 1990. 155-60.

Desreumaux, A. “Ephraim in Christian Palestinian Aramaic.” Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies 1.2 (1998): 221-226. [According to Sebastian Brock, “the translations [into Aramiac] are always from Greek”]

Dobschütz, Ernst von. Christusbilder: Untersuchungen zur christlichen Legende. Texte und Untersuchungen zur Geschichte der altchristlichen Literatur, N.F. 3. Leipzig: J.C. Hinrichs, 1899.

Eméreau, Casimir. Saint Ephrem le Syrien: son œuvre littéraire grecque. Études critiques de littérature et de philologie byzantines. Paris:Maison de la Bonne Presse, 1918.

Esbroeck, M. van. Les plus anciens homéliaires géorgiens: Étude descriptive et historique. Louvain: Peeters, 1975.

_____. ”Une homélie inédite éphrémienne sur le Bon Larron en grec, géorgien et arabe.” Analecta Bollandiana 101.3-4 (1983): 327-362.

Evans, H.C., ed. “Icon with the Dormition of Saint Ephrem the Syrian.” In Byzantium: Faith and Power (1261-1557). New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2004. P. 158.

Fransen, P. “Les extraits d’Ephrem latin dans la compilation des XII pères de Florus de Lyon.” Revue Benedictine 87 (1977): 349-71.

Ganz, D. “Knowledge of Ephraim’s Writings in the Merovingian and Carolingian Age.” Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies 2.1 (1999): 27-36.

Garitte, G. Vies géorgiennes de S. Syméon Stylite l’ancien et de S. Ephrem. Louvain: L. Durbecq, 1957.

Graf, G. Geschichte der christlichen arabischen Literatur. Vol. 1. Rome: Vatican Apostolic Library, 1944. Pp. 421–433. [According to Sebastian Brock, “Normally the [Arabic] translations are made from the Greek Ephrem corpus, and not from Syriac.”]

Gribomont, J. ”Efrem Greco.” In G. Pelliccia and G. Rocca. Dizionario degli Istituti di perfezione. Roma:Edizioni Paoline, 1976. Pp. 1071-1073.

Grypeou, E. “Ephraem Graecus, ‘Sermo In Adventum Domini:’ A Contribution to the Study of the Transmission of Apocalyptic Motifs in Greek, Latin and Syriac Traditions in Late Antiquity.” In S.K. Samir and J.P. Monferrer-Sala, eds. Graeco-Latina et Orientalia. Studia in honorem Angeli Urbani heptagenarii. Series Syro-Arabica 2. Cordoba: Oriens Academic, 2013.

Grove, Ron. ”Saint Ephrem the Syrian and Great Lent in the Greek Orthodox Tradition.” Ephrem’s Theological Journal 2.1 (1998): 8-11.

Guidi, I. “La traduzione copta di un omelia di S. Efrem.” Bessarione 2 (1902/1903): 1-21 [CPG 3952, In mulierem peccatricem]

Gusev, A.V. , ”The Sermon of ‘the Greek Ephrem’ on the Feast of Encaenia: Translation and Preliminary Observations.” Bulletin of the Ekaterinburg Theological Seminary 2.6 (2013): 179-209.

Haidacher, S. “Rede über Abraham und Isaak bei Ephraem Syrus und Pseudo-Chrysostomus – ein Excerpt aus Greogor von Nyssa.” Zeitschrift für katholische Theologie 29 (1905): 764-766.

_____. “Chrysostomus-Fragmente unter den Werken des hl. Ephraem Syrus.” Zeitschrift für katholische Theologie 30 (1906): 178-183.

Heid, S. ”Ephraem Graeci homilia de iudicio et pretiosa cruce (Clavis PG 4105).” Orientalia Christiana Periodica 67.2 (2001): 353-370.

Hemmerdinger-Iliadou, D. “Ephrem Grec.” Dictionnaire de spiritualité ascétique et mystique 4 (1960-1961): 788-819.

_____. “Éphrem latin,” Dictionnaire de spiritualité ascétique et mystique 4 (1960-1961):. 815-819.

_____. “Ephrem: Versions grecque latine et slave: Addenda et corrigenda.” ‘Eπετηρίς Ἑταιρείας Βυζαντινῶν Σπουδῶν (1975-76): 320-359.

_____. ”Étude comparative des versions grecque, latine et slave de la Vita Abrahamii.” Études balkaniques 2.3 (1965): 301-308.

_____. “L’authenticite sporadique de l’Ephrem Grec.” In Akten des XI. Internationnalen Byzantinisten-Kongresses. Munich, 1960. Pp. 232-236.

_____. L’Ephrem grec et la littérature slave.” In Actes du XIIe Congrès international d’études byzantines: Ochride 10-16 septembre, 1961. Belgrade, 1964. Pp. 343-346.

_____. “Les citations evangeliques de l’Ephem Grec,” Byzantina 4 (1973): 315-393.

_____. ”Les données archéologiques dans la version grecque des sermons de saint Éphrem le Syrien’.’ Cahiers archéologiques 13 (1962): 29-37.

_____. “Les doublets de l’edition de l’Ephrem grec par Assemani,” Orientalia Christiana Periodica 24 (1958): 371-382.

_____. ”Les manuscrits de l’Éphrem grec utilisés par Thwaites.” Scriptorium 13.2 (1959): 261-262. 

_____. “Saint Ephrem le Syrien: Sermon sur Jonas (texte grec inedit).” Le Museon 80 (1967): 47-74.

_____. “Sermon grec inedit de S. Ephrem sur le bon larron.” Analecta Bollandiana 85 (1967): 433-439.

_____. “Vers une nouvelle edition de l’Ephrem grec.” Studia Patristica 3 (1961): 72-80.

Kalish, K. “The Sinful Woman in Homilies and Hymns,” in B. Krsmanović,  L. Milanović, and B. Pavlović, eds. International Congress of Byzantine Studies. Proceedings of the 23rd International Congress of Byzantine Studies: Round Tables: Belgrade, 22-27 August, 2016. Belgrade: The Serbian National Committee of AIEB, 2016.

Kayser, C. L., ed. Philostratei libri de gymnastica. Accedunt Marci Eugenici imagines et epistolae nondum editae. Heidelberg, 1840. Pp. 142-154. [Ekphrasis of the Death of Ephrem]

Kortekaas, G.A.A. “The Biblical Quotations in the Pseudo-Ephremian Sermo de fine mundi.” In R.I.A Nip, H. van Dijk, E.M.C van Houts, and C.H. Kneepkens, eds. Media Latinitas: A Collection of Essays to Mark the Occasion of the Retirement of L.J. Engels. Instrumenta Patristica et Mediaevalia 28. Steenbrugis: Abbatia S. Petri; Turnhout: Brepols, 1996. Pp. 237-244.

Kokowzoff, P. Nouveaux fragments syropalestiniens de la Bibliothèque impériale publique de Saint-Pétersbourg. Imprimerie de l’Académie impériale des Sciences. Saint-Pétersbourg, 1906.

Labourt, J.  “St. Ephraem.” In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909.

Lash, E. “Metrical Texts of Greek Ephrem.” Studia Patristica 35 (2001): 433-448.

_____. “The Greek Writings Attributed to Saint Ephrem the Syrian.” In J. Behr, A. Louth, and D. Conomos, eds. Abba: The Tradition of Orthodoxy in the West. Crestwood: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2003. Pp. 81-98.

Lucchesi, E. ”Un corpus éphrémien en copte: Novum Auctarium au dossier copte de l’Éphrem grec.” Analecta Bollandiana 116.1-2 (1998): 107-114.

Lyon, R. W.  “A Re-examination of Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus.” New Testament Studies 5 (1959): 260–72.

Martikainen, Jouko. “Das Böse in den Schriften des Syrers Ephraem, im Stufenbuch und im Corpus Macarianum.” In Werner Strothmann, ed. Makarios-Symposium über das Böse: Vorträge der Finnisch-Deutschen Theologentagung in Goslar 1980. Göttinger Orientforschungen, I. Reihe: Syriaca 24. Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz, 1983. Pp. 36-46.

_____. ”’Dein Kleid ist dein Licht – dein Gewand ist dein Glanz’: Die Perle als ästhetisches und theologisches Symbol bei Aphrahat dem persischen Weisen, Ephraem dem Syrer und Makarios/Symeon.” In Barbel Kohler, ed. Religion und Wahrheit: religionsgeschichtliche Studien. Festschrift für Gernot Wießner zum 65. Geburtstag. Wiesbaden:Harrassowitz Verlag, 1998. Pp. 117-126.

Martin, J.R. “The Death of Ephraim in Byzantine and Early Italian Painting,” The Art Bulletin 33.4 (1951): 217-225.

Menci, G. “Il textus inferior del codice di Grottaferrata Z.a.XXIV(e) identificato: Efrem, Ad im. Prov., fra varianti reali e interpolazioni virtuali.” Scriptorium 64.2 (2010): 269-274.

Mercati, S.G. ”Note papirologiche, 3. Frammenti dell’Omelia Εἰς τὸν πάγκαλον Ἰωσήφ di S. Efrem Siro, riconosciuti nel facsimile del Montfaucon, Palaeographia Graeca, p. 214.” Biblica 1.3 (1920): 371-375.

_____. ”Note papirologiche, 6. Intorno ad ἀνδρισμός del Pap. Londin. 1338 e ad ἀνδραποδισμός di S. Ephraem Syr., In Abraham et Isaac, v. 440.” Biblica 3.4 (1922): 452. 

Noret, J. “La vie de Marie l’Égyptienne (BHG 1042): source partielle d’une prière pseudo-Éphrémienne.” Analecta Bollandiana 96 (1978): 385-387.

Outtier, B. “Les receuils géorgiens attribués à saint Ephrem le syrien.” Bedi Kartlisa 32 (1974): 118–125.

Papadopoulos, Stylianos G. «Ἐφραίμ. Ὁ Σύρος.» Θρησκευτική και Ηθική Εγκυκλοπαίδεια 5 (1964): 1160-1164.

Parpulov, G. R. Toward a History of Byzantine Psalters, ca. 850-1350 AD. Plovdiv, 2014.

Pattie, T.S. “Ephraem the Syrian and the Latin Manuscripts of De Poenitentia.” The British Library Journal 13 (1987): 1-24.

_____. “Ephraem’s ‘On Repentance’ and the Translation of the Greek Text into Other Languages.” The British Library Journal 16 (1990): 174-186.

_____. “The Early Printed Editions of Ephraem Latinus and Their Relationship to the Manuscripts.” Studia Patristica 20 (1989): 50-53.

Penkova, Biserka. “Успението на св. Ефрем Сирин в притвора на Бачковския католикон.” In I.A. Biliarsky, ed. Laudator Temporis Acti. Studia in Memoriam Ioannis A. Bozilov. Vol. 2. Sofia, 2018.

Petitmengin, P. “Notes sur des manuscrits patristiques latins I: Fragments patristiques dans le ms. Strasbourg 3762.” Revue Augustinienne 17 (1971): 3-12.

Petersen, William L. “The Dependence of Romanos the Melodist upon the Syriac Ephrem: Its Importance for the Origin of the Kontakion.” Vigiliae Christianae 39.2 (1985): 171-87.

Poirier, P.-H. “Le sermon pseudo-éphrémien In pulcherrimum Ioseph: Typologie et Midrash.” Figures de l’Ancien Testament chez les Pères. Cahiers de Biblia Patristica 2. Strasbourg: Centre d’Analyse et de Documentation Patristiques, 1989. Pp. 107-122.

Proverbio, D.V. ”Auctarium au dossier copte de l’Éphrem grec.” Orientalia 66 (1997): 78-85.

Reinink, G.J. “Pseudo-Methodius and the Pseudo-Ephremian Sermo de Fine Mundi.”  In R.I.A Nip, H. van Dijk, E.M.C van Houts, and C.H. Kneepkens, eds. Media Latinitas: A Collection of Essays to Mark the Occasion of the Retirement of L.J. Engels. Instrumenta Patristica et Mediaevalia 28. Steenbrugis: Abbatia S. Petri; Turnhout: Brepols, 1996. Pp. 317-321.

Rodiger, C. “Ephrem Syrus.” In Philip Schaff, ed. A Religious Encyclopaedia or Dictionary of Biblical, Historical, Doctrinal, and Practical Theology, 3rd ed. Vol. 2. Toronto: Funk & Wagnalls, 1894. Pp. 742-743.

Samir, S. K. “Le recueil Ephrémien arabe des 52 homélies.” Orientalia Christiana Periodica 39 (1973): 307-332.

_____. “Le recueil Ephrémien arabe des 30 homélies (Sinaï arabe 311).” Parole de l’Orient 4 (1973): 265–316,

_____. “Eine Homilien-Sammlung Ephräms des Syrers: Codex sinaiticus arabicus Nr. 311”, Oriens Christianus  58 (1974): 51–75.

_____. Éphrem arabe: Etat des travaux. Rome: Pontifical Institute of Oriental Studies, 1978.

Sauget, J. – M. “Le dossier Ephrémien du manuscrit arabe Strasbourg 4226 et de ses membra disiecta.” Orientalia Christiana Periodica 42 (1976): 426–458.

_____. “Entretiens d’Aphraate en arabe sous le nom d’Éphrem.” Le Muséon 92 (1979): 61–69.

Siegmund, A. Die Überlieferung der griechischen christlichen Literatur in der lateinischen Kirche bis zum 12. Jahrhundert. Abhandlungen der bayerischen Benediktiner-Akademie 5. Munich 1948. Pp. 67-71.

«Cирин». староверская хрестоматия. Vilnius, 2005.

Stambolov, A. “Chrysostomic or Ephremian? Tracing the Origins of a Saying Attributed to Chrysostom in the Apophthegmata Patrum.” In D. Costache and M. Baghos, eds., John Chrysostom: Past, Present, Future. Sydney, 2017.

Suh, Wonmo, ”From the Syriac Ephrem to the Greek Ephrem: A Case Study of the Influence of Ephrem’s Isosyllabic Sermons (memre) on Greek-Speaking Christianity.” Ph.D. Dissertation, Princeton Theological Seminary, 2000.

Tischendorf, C. Ephraemi Syri Rescriptus sive fragmenta utriusque Testameni e codice graeco Parisiensi celeberrimo quinti ut videtur post Christum seculi. Leipzig, 1845.

Tomadakes, N.B. «Ἐφραὶμ ὁ Σύρος έν τῇ ἑλληνικῇ ὑμνογραφία» (Studi Bizantini e Neoellenici 9 (1957): 392-404.

Thomson, Francis J. “The True Origin of Two Homilies Ascribed to Ephraem Syrus Allegedly Preserved in Slavonic.” In ΑΝΤΙΔΩΡΟΝ: Hulde aan Dr. Maurits Geerard bij de voltooiing van de Clavis Patrum Graecorum. Hommage à Maurits Geerard pour célébrer l’achèvement de la Clavis Patrum Graecorum. Wetteren: Cultura, 1984. Pp. 13-26.

_____. ”The Old Bulgarian Translation of the Homilies of Ephraem Syrus.” Palaeobulgarica 9.1 (1985): 124-130.

Tyler, J. Endell. The Worship of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Church of Rome. London, 1851. [pp. 247-264 contain a discussion of Ephremic prayers to the Mother of God]

Vikan, G. “Illustrated Manuscripts of Pseudo-Ephrem’s Life of Joseph and the Romance of Joseph and Aseneth.” Ph.D. dissertation, Princeton University, 1976.