Ephraim, wonderworker of Novotorzhok, abbot, venerable

Dates of commemoration

Feb 10
(Church calendar - Jan 28) Day of repose
May 28

(Church calendar - May 15) Synaxis of All Saints of Carpathian Ruthenia (movable feast – 1st Sunday after May 11 – Ukr.)

Jun 24
(Church calendar - Jun 11) Uncovering of the relics
Jun 25

(Church calendar - Jun 12) Synaxis of Saints of Vologda (movable feast on the 3rd Sunday of Pentecost)

Jun 25

(Church calendar - Jun 12) Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs (movable feast on the 3rd Sunday of Pentecost)

Jul 16

(Church calendar - Jul 3) Synaxis of saints of Tver (movable feast on the 1st Sunday after June 29th)

Aug 06

(Church calendar - Jul 24) Synaxis of all saints of Smolensk (movable feast on the Sunday before July 28th)

Life

Saint Ephraim of Novy Torg, founder of the Saints Boris and Gleb monastery in the city of Novy Torg, was a native of Hungary. Together with his brothers, Saint Moses the Hungarian (July 26) and Saint George (in Hungarian “Sandor,” pronounced “Shandor”), he quit his native land, possibly because he was Orthodox.

Having come to Russia, all three brothers entered into the service of the Rostov prince Saint Boris, son of Saint Vladimir (July 15). Saint Ephraim’s brother George also perished in the year 1015 at the River Alta, with holy Prince Boris. The murderers cut off his head, and took the gold medallion which he had received from Saint Boris. Moses managed to save himself by flight, and became a monk at the Kiev Caves monastery.

Saint Ephraim, evidently in Rostov at this time, and arriving at the place of the murder, found the head of his brother and took it with him. Forsaking service at the princely court, Saint Ephraim withdrew to the River Tvertsa in order to lead a solitary monastic life.

After several other monks settled near him, he founded a monastery in honor of the holy Passion-Bearers Boris and Gleb in the year 1038. The brethren chose him to lead them. Near the monastery, not far from a merchant’s road to Novgorod, a wanderer’s home was built, where the poor and travelers stayed for free. Saint Ephraim died in old age. His body was buried at the monastery he founded. The head of his brother, Saint George was also placed in the grave, in accordance with his last wishes. The relics of Saint Ephraim were uncovered in the year 1572.

Source:

https://oca.org/saints/lives/2017/01/28/100330-venerable-ephraim-abbot-and-wonderworker-of-novy-torg

Holy relic type

unless specified otherwise below, "holy relic" means a fragment of a bone of the saint

Holy relic

Location of the holy relic in the Cathedral:

South kliros, reliquary #4

Icon

Troparion

Тропарь преподобного Ефрема Новоторжского, глас 1
Божественною свыше благодатию просветився, Богомудре, / и по смерти яви тя светлость жития твоего, / темже источаеши мирови благоухание, / иже с верою притекающим к раце мощей твоих, Ефреме преподобне. / Тем вопием ти: / слава Давшему ти чудесем благодать, / слава Прославльшему тя в чудесех, / слава Действующему тобою всем исцеления.

Kontakion

Кондак преподобного Ефрема Новоторжского, глас 8
Яко Богоявленная Российская звезда,/ днесь сияя чудесы, явился еси, преподобне отче Ефреме./ Тем не престай моляся о стаде своем,/ сохраняли отечество твое, град же и люди,/ иже тебе верою почитающих/ и к честным мощем твоим усердно притекающих,/ да велегласно тебе вопием:/ радуйся, Богомудре Ефреме, отче наш.

Address of our Cathedral

  • 4001 17th St. N.W.,
  • Washington, D.C., 20011

Phone  (202) 726-3000

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