Patriarch Porfirije: Ephrem the Syrian's prayer summarizes the whole Gospel
The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church urged believers to make the Prayer of Ephrem the Syrian a part of their daily life.
On March 5, 2025, the third day of Great Lent, Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia delivered a sermon after the Great Compline with the Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete at the Church of Saint Sava in Belgrade. He emphasized the special significance of the Prayer of Ephrem the Syrian.
"We repeat this prayer many times throughout Lent, and each of its lines deeply reveals not only the essence of fasting but of the entire Christian path. It sums up, or briefly presents, the whole Gospel. It is enough to focus on its final words: 'Grant me to see my own sins and not to judge my brother.' This is precisely the central message of Christ’s teaching," he said.
The Patriarch highlighted how difficult it is for a person to focus on their own spiritual condition:
"We all know how hard it is to engage in this constant struggle, how difficult it is to look into our own hearts and see ourselves in the true light before God. Demonic forces try to draw us away from our inner center, to scatter our minds with external events, to make us judge what is happening around us instead of working on purifying our own souls. As a result, our inner state remains neglected, overgrown with passions and sins."
His Holiness also recalled Christ’s words: "The Lord tells us that we see the speck in our brother’s eye but do not notice the log in our own. Or when the Pharisees brought Him a sinful woman, Christ responded: 'Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.'"
In conclusion, Patriarch Porfirije urged believers to make the Prayer of Ephrem the Syrian a part of their daily lives: "Let this prayer not be just words but our way of life. Let us strive for humility before God, seeking Christ in the depths of our hearts. Then we will find answers to all the most important questions that trouble us. May this Lenten season bring us spiritual joy, inner peace, and love – for God, for His creation, and for one another. Blessed be this prayer!"
Previously, the UOJ reported that Patriarch Porfirije wished that the desire to be with Christ would become the center of our lives.
