Patriarch
Saint Ephraim, Patriarch of the Serbian Church, was the son of a priest. From a young age he longed to live the monastic life, a desire he kept hidden from his parents. As he grew older, however, he met a hermit named Basil. He began to practice asceticism under his guidance, devoting himself to fasting and prayer.
In time, he entered the monastic life. He initially settled in Mount Athos at the Holy Monastery of Iviron. Later he chose a life of seclusion, following a hermit monk. After the death of King Dušan and the general unrest that followed, Ephraim was brutally beaten by robbers. Patriarch Sava took him under his care and helped him recover.
In 1375, the synod elected him to the patriarchal throne. Saint Ephraim, unprepared for such an outcome, mourned the loss of his monastic and hesychastic way of life. Nevertheless, he was ordained and faithfully carried out his duties until 1382. In that year he resigned and returned to a life of seclusion. Following the death of the blessed Spyridon in 1388, Ephraim was called once more to ascend the patriarchal throne.
He fell asleep in the Lord on 15 June 1400, at the age of eighty-eight. His relics are preserved in the great patriarchal church.
The memory of the saint is commemorated on 30 August.
