6.3: Examples from St. Ephrem, St. Mary of Egypt, and Others
Opening Reflection
The ascetical path is not a theory but a lived reality, shown most
beautifully in the lives of the saints. This lesson highlights the lived
experience of repentance and holy tears through the examples of St. Ephrem
the Syrian, St. Mary of Egypt, and other radiant ascetics whose
lives demonstrate how tears, humility, and repentance lead to deep communion
with God. Their stories serve as living theology—lessons of grace,
struggle, and divine mercy.
1. St. Ephrem the Syrian – The Prophet
of Compunction (Regret)
- Known as the "Harp
of the Holy Spirit", St. Ephrem (306 - 373 AD) was not only a
prolific hymnographer and theologian but also a man of constant tears
and repentance.
- His prayers are
filled with compunction. Among his most quoted prayers is the following:
“O Lord and Master of my life, take
from me the spirit of sloth (laziness), despair, lust of power, and idle talk.
But give rather the spirit of chastity (ንጽሕና), humility,
patience, and love to your servant... Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my
own sins and not to judge my brother.”
- St. Ephrem
would often weep while writing or chanting hymns. He wrote:
“Give me, O Lord, fountains of tears,
that I may weep for my sins, as the harlot wept at your feet.”
- He believed
that tears were a form of prayer that rose like incense to God. His
entire ascetical life was marked by contrition (repentance), fasting,
and contemplation, offering a model for monks and laypeople alike.
2. St. Mary of Egypt – The Desert Repentant
- St. Mary of
Egypt ( 345–421 AD) initially lived as a prostitute
in Alexandria, driven by passion and pride. Her life took a dramatic turn
around the age of 29, when she attempted to enter the Church of the Holy
Sepulchre in Jerusalem—but was mysteriously prevented by an invisible force.
- In deep sorrow
and realization, she prayed to the Mother of God, repented, and promised
to change. After receiving Communion (holy Eucharist), she went into
the desert for 47 years, living in solitude, prayer, and severe
repentance.
- St. Zosimas,
the monk who encountered her, found her radiant like an angel. Her body
had been transfigured by divine grace. Though she had never read
the Scriptures, she knew them by heart, received the gift of prophecy, and
was lifted in prayer.
- Her life is a testament
to the power of repentance, showing that no sin is greater than
God's mercy.
“I am not worthy to look upon the Cross, for I defiled my body with sin.
But God, in His mercy, has looked upon my nothingness and lifted me from the
abyss (ጉድጓድ).” – St. Mary of Egypt.
In the Ethiopian
Orthodox Tewahedo Church, St. Mary of Egypt is commemorated on the sixth day of
every month, with her repose earnestly remembered annually on Miyaziya 6 (April
14 in the Gregorian calendar).
3. St. Peter the Apostle – From Denial
to Devotion
- After denying
Christ three times, Peter “went out and wept bitterly” “…ወደ ውጭም ወጥቶ መራራ ልቅሶ አለቀሰ።” (Matthew
26:75). That moment of weeping became his turning point.
- According to
tradition, St. Peter wept every time he heard a rooster crow (ዶሮ ሲጮህ), and his face was scarred by tears. His restoration reaches
its fullness when the Risen Christ caringly asks him, “Do you love Me?”
(John 21:15–17).
- His repentance
was not a temporary feeling—it was a lifelong movement of love
toward the Savior.
4. St. Symeon the New Theologian – The
Light of Repentance
- St. Symeon, a
Byzantine (Eastern Orthodox) spiritual ascetic (949 - 1022 AD), wept daily in
prayer— sometimes uncontrollably.
- He writes:
“The man who has received the gift of
tears has begun to taste the sweetness of God. It is by tears that the soul is
purified.”
- He also
experienced the uncreated light—a manifestation of God's
presence—during his tearful prayer.
- His life
reveals that repentance is not just about guilt, but a path to
divine illumination.
5. The Desert Fathers – A Life Soaked
in Tears
- Abba Poemen
(340 – 450 AD) said:
“A man who truly wants to make
progress must always weep in his heart.”
- Abba Arsenius (350 – 445
AD) wept so much that his eyelashes fell out. When asked why he wept,
he said:
“I fear that I have not yet begun to
repent.”
- St. Macarius of
Egypt (300 – 391 AD) said:
“When a man weeps for his sins, the
demons cannot stand near him.”
These examples illustrate that tears are not just emotional responses but
signs of a heart touched by God. Their lives teach us that true
repentance opens the door to the joy of salvation, as articulated in the
heartfelt words of Psalm 51. “…አቤቱ፥ እንደ ቸርነትህ መጠን ማረኝ፤ እንደ ምሕረትህም ብዛት መተላለፌን ደምስስ።ከበደሌ ፈጽሞ እጠበኝ፥ ከኃጢአቴም አንጻኝ፤ እኔ መተላለፌን አውቃለሁና፥ ኃጢአቴም ሁልጊዜ በፊቴ ነውና።…”
6. Their Tears Still Speak: Why These
Lives Matter Today
These saints and elders show us that:
- No one is
beyond salvation.
- Repentance is
healing, not punishment.
- Grace often
comes through sorrow.
- The soul
becomes a vessel of light through humble tears.
We are all called to echo the life of repentance these holy ones
lived, whether we live in deserts or cities.
Conclusion
The lives of these saints and elders remind us
that repentance is a transformative journey open to all. Their tears, humility,
and steadfast faith reveal that no one is beyond God’s mercy, and true
repentance leads not to punishment, but to healing and grace. Whether we live
in solitude or amidst the busyness of the city, we are invited to follow their
example—embracing a humble heart that becomes a vessel of divine light through
sincere repentance.
Reflection Questions
- What part of
these stories speaks most to my heart?
- Do I see tears
as weakness or as the beginning of healing?
- Have I made
space in my life to truly repent and return to God?
Closing Prayer
“O Lord, through the prayers of St. Ephrem, St. Mary, and St. Peter—who wept in true repentance—grant us also the gift of tears. Soften the hardness of our hearts. Let not our sins overwhelm us, but cleanse us in the river of Your boundless mercy. May we, too, be found in the radiance of Your Face. Through the intercessions of Your most holy Mother and all the saints, Amen."
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