Hymns on Paradise #10

Publication Data: Crestwood, NY: St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1990
Format: softcover
Number of Pages: 240
Dimensions (l × w × h): 18.4 cm × 12.7 cm × 1.7 cm
ISBN: 0‒88141‒076‒4

   
St Ephrem
Introduction and translation by Sebastian Brock

Number 10 of Popular Patristics Series

“To many people St Ephrem the Syrian will be known best for the beautiful prayer, attributed to him, used during the Lenten Fast[...]. But Ephrem also happens to be a religious poet of quite outstanding stature, one who deserves to rank alongside the greatest of theologian poets in the Christian tradition. That he has only rarely been recognized as such is due largely to the inaccessibility of his works, written in Syriac (a dialect of Aramaic) and for the most part poorly served by translations into modern languages. [...]It is with the aim of making up, in a small way, for this deficiency as far as English is concerned, that the present translation is offered. The cycle of fifteen hymns on Paradise has been chosen since it offers a fine example of the way in which St Ephrem is able to weave a profound theological synthesis organized around a particular Biblical narrative, in this case Genesis chapters 2 and 3. By penetrating beyond the letter of the text he succeeds in drawing out its inner meaning and in relating this to the Christian message as a whole; all this he achieves through the medium of poetry, not the vehicle we usually associate with theological writing today, but which nonetheless is capable of conveying theological insights in a manner that is at once dynamic and compelling.”
—“1. INTRODUCTION”

CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION
   The Life of St Ephrem
   St Ephrem and Monasticism
   St Ephrem’s Writings
   Poetic Form
   St Ephrem’s Theological Vision
   Types and Symbols
   The Garment of Words
   St Ephrem’s Concept of Paradise
   The Two Trees
   The Fence and the Sword
   The Robe of Glory
   Paradise Regained
   The Present Translation
2. THE HYMNS ON PARADISE
   Hymn I
   Hymn II
   Hymn III
   Hymn IV
   Hymn V
   Hymn VI
   Hymn VII
   Hymn VIII
   Hymn IX
   Hymn X
   Hymn XI
   Hymn XII
   Hymn XIII
   Hymn XIV
   Hymn XV
   Notes to the Hymns on Paradise
3. THE COMMENTARY ON GENESIS (SECTION II)
   Notes to Section II of the Commentary on Genesis
4. BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
   Index 1: Biblical References
   Index 2: Proper Names
   Index 3: Subjects