The Holy Spirit in the thought and writings of Saint Ephrem the Syrian

Abstract

The theme of this thesis, as indicated in the title, is the Holy Spirit in the thought and writings of the 4th century Syrian Theologian, Saint Ephrem. The Holy Spirit plays a special role in the history of salvation, that is, creation, redemption, life of the Church and eschatology. This study is aimed to better understand the faith and understanding of the early Syrian Christians and how this was expressed in their liturgy and spirituality. A general introduction to early Syriac theology and why the Holy Spirit is central in Eastern theology, will help us to introduce ourselves to the subject matter. A biographical note on Ephrem the Deacon will give us a hint of the historical realities and the formation he had which is manifested in his thought and writings. The main theme of our study will be the role the Holy Spirit plays in the history of salvation. What was the role of the Holy Spirit in creation and the Incarnation of Jesus Christ? How does Ephrem understand the role of the Holy Spirit with man? Being body and soul, how does the human person relate to the Holy Spirit in and through these dimensions? In the last part of my study, I will explore the feminine images used by Ephrem in order to convey his pneumatology. Along with this, one will read about Ephrem sʼ catechesis and mystagogy in the early Syriac Church and how this contribution is still present in the Syriac and Maronite liturgies. Finally I will tackle the Church as a reflection of the Trinitarian communion. Hoping that Ephrem s thought and writings can be useful for an ʼ ecumenical rapprochement