Father Ephraim was asked by the Antiochian
Patriarch, His Beautitude ELIAS IV (Mouawad), to
return to Lebanon and reopen Saint John of
Damascus Institute of Theology, as it was closed
during the Lebanese civil war, and work as Dean.
He did so from 1979-1981, where he surrendered his
position to Archpriest Michel Najm.
Father Ephraim then founded his own monastery in
Nahr Baskinta, under the jurisdiction of His
Eminence Georges Khodre, Metropolitan of Mount
Lebanon. The monastery is located nearly 1200
meters above sea level and is called “Holy
Archangel Michael Monastery”, and Father Ephraim
is still presently the Abbot there and now has
several monks under his spiritual direction. He
recently established a new Church, which was
consecrated also by Metropolitan Georges, as an
attachment to the Monastery, and is reserved for a
more quiet setting for his brotherhood to pray
alone. The Patron Saint of this Church is St.
Ephraim the Syrian.
Fr. Ephraim has also
published and translated many theological and
spiritual books into Arabic over the years; books
including the Patristic Commentaries for the
Gospel & Epistle Readings for Sundays and Feast
Days, the Teachings of St. Ephraim the Syrian and
the Letters of Elder Paisios the Athonite,
enriching Orthodoxy for the faithful Arabic
readers. He also continues to write articles for
Orthodox periodicals and magazines, as well as
providing an annual publication by his monastery
containing many spiritual topics in both Arabic
and English.
Even though Fr. Ephraim is
Abbot of his own monastery and serves the
spiritual needs of the neighboring village, he
still spares time to give lectures and frequent
visits to the students and his spiritual children
of Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology,
as well as many other monasteries and parishes in
Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. And also as far west as
North America, where we are spiritually blessed
with his holy presence this year at our Clergy
Retreat.
May God grant Fr. Ephraim
many more years to continue his ministry here and
abroad, and may he remember us all at the Holy
Altar in Archangel Michael Monastery.
