Two hymns on Epiphany by St. Ephraim the Syrian: sources, theology, poetics

Abstract

The article for the first time publishes a translation from Syriac into Russian of two hymns on the Epiphany of St. Ephraim the Syrian with a detailed commentary. The translation is preceded by an introductory article, which examines the issues of source studies, poetics and theology. The connections of St. Ephraim with the theology of St. Ignatius of Antioch and St. Meliton of Sardis are established, including the idea of a symphony of Church and state. Some apocryphal plots present in the hymns of St. Ephraim are traced, in particular the fire or light on the water of the Jordan, the sermon of the Magi about Christ. The triadological theology of St. Ephraim is considered from the point of view of the unity of the Father, Son and Spirit, as well as his Christological teaching, which contains elements of both symmetrical and asymmetric Christology. The presence of the doctrine of communicatioidiomatum in the  theology of St. Ephraim is also noted.