Saint Ephraim II of Pereyaslav, (russian: Ефрем Переяславский) also Saint Ephraim of the Caves (russian: Ефрем Печерский) or Saint Ephraim, Bishop of Pereslav -

Eastern Orthodox Eastern Orthodoxy, also known as Eastern Orthodox Christianity, is one of the three main branches of Chalcedonian Christianity, alongside Catholicism and Protestantism. Like the Pentarchy of the first millennium, the mainstream (or " canonical ...

saint In religious belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness, likeness, or closeness to God. However, the use of the term ''saint'' depends on the context and denomination. In Catholic, Eastern Or ...

bishop A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ...

Pereiaslav Pereiaslav ( uk, Перея́слав, translit=Pereiaslav, yi, פּרעיאַסלעוו, Periyoslov) is a historical city in the Boryspil Raion, Kyiv Oblast ( province) of central Ukraine, located near the confluence of Alta and Trubizh ri ...

Ukraine Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inva ...

). Before his tonsure into

monasticism Monasticism (from Ancient Greek , , from , , 'alone'), also referred to as monachism, or monkhood, is a religious way of life in which one renounces worldly pursuits to devote oneself fully to spiritual work. Monastic life plays an important rol ...

, was treasurer and steward of household affairs (1054–1068) at the court of the

Iziaslav Yaroslavich Iziaslav Yaroslavich ( orv, Изѧславь Ѩрославичь; russian: Изяслав Ярославич; uk, Ізяслав Ярославич; 1024 – 3 October 1078, baptized as ''Demetrius'') was a Kniaz' (Prince of Turov, Prince) of ...

the Grand Prince of Kiev. Weighed down by this noisy and bustling life and wishing to become a monk, he was accepted by Saint

Anthony of Kiev Anthony of Kiev also called Anthony of the Caves ( uk, Антоній Печерський, russian: Антоний Печерский; c. 983–1073) was a monk and the founder of the monastic tradition in Kievan Rus'. Together with Theodosius ...

and was tonsured (23 March) by Saint Nikon the Chronicler, then the

Hegumen Hegumen, hegumenos, or igumen ( el, ἡγούμενος, trans. ), is the title for the head of a monastery in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches, similar to the title of abbot. The head of a convent of nuns is called a hegumenia ...

of the

Kyiv Monastery of the Caves Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra or Kyivo-Pechers’ka Lavra ( uk, Києво-Печерська лавра, translit=Kyievo-Pecherska lavra, russian: Киево-Печерская лавра), also known as the Kyiv Monastery of the Caves, is a historic Ea ...

. The enraged Iziaslav demanded that Ephraim return, threatening to lock him up in prison and to destroy the

(the Pechersk Lavra). St Anthony and the brethren left the monastery and decided to go to another place. Iziaslav, however, feared the wrath of

God In monotheistic thought, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator, and principal object of faith. Swinburne, R.G. "God" in Honderich, Ted. (ed)''The Oxford Companion to Philosophy'', Oxford University Press, 1995. God is typically ...

. He took his wife's advice and withdrew his forces from the monastery in disgrace. Ephraim wished to go on

pilgrimage A pilgrimage is a journey, often into an unknown or foreign place, where a person goes in search of new or expanded meaning about their self, others, nature, or a higher good, through the experience. It can lead to a personal transformation, aft ...

to the holy places abroad. With the blessing of St Anthony, he journeyed to

Constantinople la, Constantinopolis ota, قسطنطينيه , alternate_name = Byzantion (earlier Greek name), Nova Roma ("New Rome"), Miklagard/Miklagarth (Old Norse), Tsargrad ( Slavic), Qustantiniya (Arabic), Basileuousa ("Queen of Cities"), Megalopolis (" ...

and settled there in one of the monasteries. While in Constantinople, Ephraim made a copy of the

Studite The Monastery of Stoudios, more fully Monastery of Saint John the Forerunner "at Stoudios" ( grc-gre, Μονή του Αγίου Ιωάννη του Προδρόμου εν τοις Στουδίου, Monē tou Hagiou Iōannē tou Prodromou en to ...

monastic rule, and took it to

Kyiv Kyiv, also spelled Kiev, is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is in north-central Ukraine along the Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2021, its population was 2,962,180, making Kyiv the seventh-most populous city in Europe. Ky ...

at the request of

Theodosius of Kiev Theodosius of Kiev or Theodosius of the Caves (russian: Феодосий Печерский; uk, Феодосій Печерський) is an 11th-century saint who brought Cenobitic Monasticism to Kievan Rus' and, together with Anthony of Kiev, ...

. As soon as he received the Rule, Theodosius implemented it in his monastery (the Pechersk Lavra). After the year 1072 Ephraim was made bishop in Pereslav, with the title of

Metropolitan Metropolitan may refer to: * Metropolitan area, a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories * Metropolitan borough, a form of local government district in England * Metropolitan county, a typ ...

. He adorned Pereslav with many beautiful churches and public buildings, and he built stone walls around the city in the Greek manner. He built free hospices for the poor and travelers, and constructed several public bath-houses. In the year 1091, Ephraim participated in the opening and solemn transfer of the relics of St Theodosius. A Life of St Ephraim existed in former times, but it has not survived. We find an account of him both in the Life of St Theodosius, and in the Russian Chronicles. A tale and encomium for St Nicholas the Wonderworker is ascribed to Ephraim. Ephraim died in the year 1098. He was buried in the Church of the Presentation in the Near Caves of the

. His memory is also celebrated on 28 January, 28 September, and on the second Sunday of Great Lent.

External links

Lives of All Saints
{{authority control 1098 deaths 11th-century Eastern Orthodox bishops Monks of Kyiv Pechersk Lavra Eastern Orthodox saints from Ukraine Russian saints 11th-century Christian saints Burials at the Near Caves, Kyiv Pechersk Lavra Year of birth unknown 11th-century people from Kievan Rus' Monks from Kievan Rus'