E02531: The Homily (memrā) on *Ephrem (poet and theologian of Edessa, ob. 373, S01238) is written in Syriac during the late 5th/early 6th c. by Jacob of Serugh (c. 451-521). It celebrates the life and achievements of Ephrem, with particular emphasis on his work as church poet and defender of orthodoxy.

Jacob of Serugh, Homily on Ephrem

The homily opens with a brief exordium, in which the author acknowledges his inadequacy to address the subject (pp. 24-29 of Amar's edition). In the following main section of the Homily, the virtues and accomplishments of Ephrem are celebrated. One of the most prominent subjects in that regard is the ministry of Ephrem among Syrian women, for whom he composed hymns to sing during church services; developing this theme, Jacob compares the saint with Moses (pp. 34-53). Another major aspect of Ephrem's image in the Homily is his defence of orthodoxy against a wide range of heresies, including Arianism, Marcionism and the teaching of Bardaisan (pp. 53-57). On several occasions Jacob expresses his pride in Ephrem as a fellow Syrian, describing the poet as 'an amazing orator who surpassed the Greek in his manner of speech' (p. 33) or as 'the crown of the entire Syrian nation' (p. 65).