Elder Ephraim of Philotheou.
Elder Ephraim
of Philotheou
Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Philotheou for seventeen years and a reformer of monasticism in the New World. A spiritual son of the late Elder Joseph the Hesychast, he carried the Athonite tradition to nineteen new monasteries in America and Canada.
Childhood and calling
The Elder Ephraim was born on 24 June 1928 in Volos, as John Moraitis. He passed his childhood in poverty, helping his father at his work, but always followed the pious example of his mother — who later became a nun with the name Theophano.
At the age of 14 he began to long for the monastic life, but did not receive his confessor’s blessing to go to Mount Athos until he was 19.
John Moraitis
An Athonite father
To Mount Athos
On his arrival at Mount Athos, on 26 September 1947, he went straight to Elder Joseph the Hesychast, at the cave of the Honourable Forerunner, who received him into his brotherhood. Nine months later, in 1948, he was tonsured with the name Ephraim.
Out of obedience to his elder, the monk Ephraim was ordained deacon and then priest. Life in the brotherhood of Elder Joseph was very strict and ascetic.
After the repose of Elder Joseph in 1959, a number of monks gathered around Elder Ephraim, holding him as their spiritual father.
Abbot of Philotheou
In 1973 his brotherhood moved to the Holy Monastery of Philotheou, where he also became its abbot. On account of Elder Ephraim’s renown, the monastic brotherhood grew quickly.
He was asked by the administration of Mount Athos to revive and re-populate several monasteries on the Holy Mountain that were suffering from a lack of monks — Xeropotamou, Konstamonitou and Karakallou. These received his spiritual guidance.
The Elder with the brotherhood
Standing, from left: Mon. Ioannikios of Philotheou, Mon. Efthymios, Hieromonk Dionysios (†) of Philotheou, Hieromonk Makarios. Seated: Elder Ephraim of Philotheou, Archim. Theophanes, Abbot of the H. Monastery of Iviron.
The mission to America
In 1979 he arrived in Canada for reasons of health. As soon as he arrived, he began to hear confessions, to counsel and to teach the Greeks of the diaspora. His pastoral work then spread also to the United States.
Two monasteries were founded first — one in Montreal and one in Pittsburgh. Today there are nineteen monasteries in North America under the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and Canada, dedicated to Christ, the Panagia and the Saints.
As it was not practical for him to be abbot of Philotheou, since he was absent for extended periods in North America, he resigned the abbacy in 1990.
A cross upon the fountain
The Repose
At dawn on Sunday, 8 December 2019, Elder Ephraim reposed in the Lord in Arizona, leaving behind a blessed work and a rich spiritual inheritance. He was the reformer of monasticism on the American continent.
Words of the Elder
Words of the Elder, as kept by his spiritual children.
« No worldly joy remains without regret. Only the joy that comes from God is genuine and sincere. »
« Pain purifies the soul, makes it humble, compassionate, good — and so the ground is prepared for the divine visitation. »
« Who repented and was not saved? Who said ‘I have sinned’ and was not forgiven? Who fell and asked for help and did not rise? Who wept and was not consoled by God? »
« Repentance has great power. It takes the coal and makes it a diamond. It takes the wolf and makes it a lamb. It takes the savage and makes him a saint. »
« In this world none of us has a place. The spiritual world awaits us all. We are passers-by upon the earth. »
Holy Monastery of St Anthony · Arizona
The founding of the Holy Monastery of St Anthony began in 1995. It is a men’s cenobitic monastery, with about 35 monks of various nationalities. It now covers an area of 2,000 stremmata, has five churches, and is visited daily by many pilgrims from all over the world. The monks follow exactly the Byzantine ordinances — holy services, all-night vigils, and the horarium of Mount Athos.
A paradise in the desert
5 churches · 35 monks · 2,000 stremmata
