Ephraim of Arizona
Greek missionary to America (1928–2019)
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Geronda Ephraim of Arizona and Philotheou (Greek: Γέροντας Ἐφραὶμ Ἀριζόνας-Φιλοθειτης; June 24, 1928 – December 7, 2019) was a revered Greek Orthodox hieromonk, Athonite elder, and archimandrite in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America under the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople. He became well known for his extensive spiritual guidance (such as his emphasis of the Jesus Prayer) in Greece and especially in America by spreading Athonite monasticism and the Orthodox faith in America. Many of his followers would seek out his guidance in the form of confession. His spiritual father is Saint Iosif (Joseph) the Hesychast, canonized by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Ephraim of Arizona and Philotheou | |
|---|---|
| Native name | Ιωάννης Μωραΐτης |
| Church | Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ioannis Moraitis 24 June 1928 |
| Died | 7 December 2019 (aged 91) |
| Nationality | Greek |
| Denomination | Eastern Orthodoxy |
| Profession | Hieromonk |
Early life and background
On June 24, 1928, he was born Ioannis Moraitis (Greek: Ιωάννης Μωραΐτης) in Volos, Greece. His parents were Demetrios and Victoria Moraitis.[1]
Geronda Ephraim entered Mount Athos in 1947, where he was a disciple of the Athonite elder Saint Joseph the Hesychast. On July 13, 1948, he was tonsured and given the monastic name Ephraim. When his spiritual father Joseph the Hesychast died on August 15, 1959, he became the geronda (elder) of the hut of Annunciation of the Theotokos in New Skete. Ephraim soon became the head of his own brotherhood (which grew to 80 monks in 1981) and moved with them to the skete of Provata in 1968. From October 1, 1973, to 1991, Geronda Ephraim served as the abbot of Philotheou Monastery.[1] Through the efforts of Archimandrite Ephraim, monastic life was restored in several sketes on Mount Athos,[2] as his disciples also repopulated the monasteries of Philotheou, Xeropotamou, Konstamonitou, and Karakallou.[3]
In 1979, Geronda Ephraim visited North American cities and met with members of the Greek diaspora.[4]
First he visited parishes in Canada (Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal). Afterwards, people started inviting him to the USA. Similar visits became regular in the United States and Canada. Finally, Archimandrite Ephraim decided to move to the United States for the spiritual nourishment of the flock and for the revival of spiritual life in the Greek Orthodox communities of North America.[5]
Greek Orthodox Monasteries in the US and Canada founded by Geronda Ephraim
Archimandrite Ephraim devoted his entire life to missionary work, which was based on the opening of Greek Orthodox monasteries in the United States and Canada, which soon became spiritual centers. The first monastery was founded in 1989 (the convent of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania).[6] In 1995, Archimandrite Ephraim founded the Saint Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona in honor of Anthony the Great,[1] where he settled. Totally 19 monasteries were established in the United States and Canada as a result of his work.[7][8]
The Greek Orthodox monasteries in North America founded by Ephraim of Arizona are:[1]
| Date | Monastery | Location | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Nativity of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Monastery | Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, US | [9] |
| 1993 | St. Kosmas Aitolos Greek Orthodox Monastery | Bolton, Ontario, Canada | [10] |
| 1993 | Panagia Parigoritissa Greek Orthodox Monastery | Brownsburg-Chatham, Quebec, Canada | [11] |
| 1993 | St. John Chrysostomos Greek Orthodox Monastery | Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, US | [12] |
| 1993 | Holy Protection of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Monastery | White Haven, Pennsylvania, US | [13] |
| 1993 | Life-giving Spring of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Monastery | Dunlap, California, US | |
| 1995 | St. John the Honorable Forerunner Greek Orthodox Monastery | Goldendale, Washington, US | [14] |
| 1998 | Annunciation of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Monastery | Reddick, Florida, US | [15] |
| 1998 | Panagia Prousiotissa Greek Orthodox Monastery | Troy, North Carolina, US | [16] |
| 2004 | St. Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Monastery | Washington, Texas, US | [17] |
| Date | Monastery | Location | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | St. Anthony Greek Orthodox Monastery | Florence, Arizona, US | [18] |
| 1996 | Holy Archangels Greek Orthodox Monastery | Kendalia, Texas, US | [19] |
| 1998 | Panagia Vlahernon Greek Orthodox Monastery | Williston, Florida, US | [20] |
| 1998 | Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Monastery | Smiths Creek, Michigan, US | |
| 1998 | Panagia Pammakaristos Greek Orthodox Monastery | Lawsonville, North Carolina, US | |
| 1998 | Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Monastery | Harvard, Illinois, US | [21] |
| 1998 | St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Monastery | Roscoe, New York, US | [22] |
Death
Archimandrite Ephraim died at St. Anthony Monastery, Arizona, on December 7, 2019, at the age of 91.[23]