Vanessa2007.03.15 [14:33]
[edit] Early life
Elder Ephraim was born in 1927 in Volos, Greece, with a baptismal name of John. He grew up in poverty and helped his father at work, but always tried to emulate the pious life of his mother (who became a nun with the name of Theophano). He began to desire the monastic life around 14 years of age, but he did not get a blessing from his spiritual father to leave and become a monk until he was 19.
[edit] Monastic life
When he arrived at Mount Athos, he became a disciple of Elder Joseph the Hesychast who tonsured him in 1948 and gave him the name Ephraim. Elder Ephraim was subsequently ordained a deacon, and then a priest. The life in the brotherhood under Elder Joseph was very austere and ascetical, and Elder Ephraim made great spiritual progress under his holy Elder. After Elder Joseph's repose in 1959, Elder Ephraim continued to live in asceticism for many years until he became the abbot of the Holy Monastery of Philotheou in 1973, where he was able to revive the spiritual life there in a short time. Due to the reputation of Elder Ephraim, the monastery's brotherhood grew rapidly. Elder Ephraim was asked by the council of Mount Athos to revive and expand several other monasteries on Mount Athos which had a dwindling number of monks. These monasteries were Xeropotamou, Konstamonitou, and Karakallou. He was also asked to repopulate the Great Lavra but declined. These monasteries are still under his spiritual guidance today. Along with the monasteries on Mount Athos, there are several other monasteries in Greece under Elder Ephraim's spiritual guidance.
Vanessa2007.03.15 [14:20]
St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery is a monastic community for men in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. It is located in Florence, Arizona, and the spiritual father of the monastery is Elder Ephraim.
The community was founded in 1995 by six Athonite monks along with Elder Ephraim, former abbot of Philotheou Monastery on Mount Athos, with the blessings of His Eminence Metropolitan Anthony (Gergiannakis) of San Francisco (of blessed memory). In time it has grown to approximately 42 monks, and is continuing to grow, providing the training grounds for the monks of other Greek Orthodox monasteries in America that are under the elder's spiritual guidance.
The community consists of men living the monastic tradition of a Christ-centered prayer life for the monastic members. Unlike on Mount Athos, both men and women are equally encouraged and welcome to visit as pilgrims. It is not uncommon to see men, women, and children attending Liturgy with the monks.
Vanessa2007.03.15 [14:16]
Elder Ephraim, a disciple of Elder Joseph the Hesychast, having restored and repopulated four Mt. Athos monasteries and having established several men’s and women’s monastic communities throughout Greece and North America, transferred six Athonite monks to the Sonoran Desert to start a new monastery. Upon their arrival the fathers began with the necessary construction work, building first the main church, living quarters for the monks, the dining hall, and guest facilities. A vegetable garden, a small vineyard, citrus orchards, and an olive grove dot the landscape. An elaborate system of gardens, pathways, and gazebos with Spanish fountains truly render the monastery and its extensive grounds an oasis in the desert.
marina2007.03.14 [22:04]
Чула сам да има неки монах који је са Свете Горе отишао у Аризону, а духовно је чедо старца Јосифа из Новог Скита на Светој Гори. Да ли је то овај старац Јефрем ?
Vladapop2007.03.14 [21:38]
Што нам учини Иоакеиме.
