Status Updates From Ephrem the Syrian: Hymns

Working my way through the Hymns on the Nativity. The first four are simply amazing. The fourth one in particular mediates upon the nature of the day itself, how it has this past (much longer now) and future, both of which far outstrip our own lives. Anyone who has a liturgical understanding of time will appreciate it. I mean to find my books of his hymns after this.

Started with his Hymns against Julian, as probably the most topical and time bound. Shades of St Augustine, which is to be expected. His first hymn on the Nativity is simply beautiful. I had to listen to a hymn of his in the original language, and while I couldn’t find this specific hymn, the one I found was fascinating. Definitely unlike the Latin hymns I know, but still powerful.