Elder Ephraim the Philotheus (in the world known as Ioanis Moraitis) was born on June 24, 1928 in Volos, Greece. At the age of 19, he renounced the world and moved to Mount Athos, becoming the obedient spiritual child of Saint Elder Joseph Hesychast, a silent man and hermit.
The greatness of Ephraim Ephraim’s personality and deeds are worthy of his spiritual father. He rebuilt the Philotean monastery on Athos, and after a short period of time established nineteen monasteries on the American continent, which became a spiritual oasis for Americans thirsty for the grace of God. He passed away in the monastery of St. Anthony, Arizona (USA), which he founded himself, by constantly praying for his spiritual children and for the salvation of the whole world.
In 1960, one of the greatest Orthodox theologians of the twentieth century, Father Ianis Romanidis (1927-2001) wrote in a letter to the Athenian monk and church writer Theoclitus Dionysius that the case of Orthodoxy on the American continent awaits the inevitable death. A few years later, thinking thoughtfully of the efforts of just one person seemed impossible.
The Salvation of Orthodoxy in America
Father Ephrem (Moraitis) first came to Canada in 1972 at the invitation of his spiritual children. After several years, such visits to the US and Canada became frequent. The old man talked to people, taught them, comforted them, preached … The need for Americans for the living word of the Gospel and their need for a true spiritual life became increasingly apparent.
On the basis of his missionary activity, Elder Ephraim set up the opening of male and female monasteries, which became spiritual centers and attracted thousands of indifferent people who viewed the family as “a piece of heaven on earth.”
According to the famous Greek historian and theologian father George Metallinos, “Orthodox monasteries are becoming the most effective missionary centers. Living in a monastery, observing the life of a monk, and participating in worship services have a much more effective effect on those who go through the process of advertising than the dry scholastic words. The non-orthodox want to get to know living Orthodoxy and see it from within. “
Elder Ephraim’s monasteries have appeared in many regions of the US and Canada: New York, Texas, Florida, Washington, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Illinois, California, Michigan, Montreal and Toronto. The total number of monasteries founded by Elder Ephrem at this time is nineteen, and two more monasteries are under construction. That number may increase further as many laymen donate to the land and come up with the initiative to create more new monasteries.
All the monasteries of Elder Ephraim are with a residence. They are governed by the Atonic constitution and have chosen the vows of Joseph Hesychast as the basis of their lives. Many residents of American and Canadian families have repeatedly visited Mount Athos and even lived in the monasteries of Athos for a while, wanting to learn about the monastic tradition at its source.
Return to the Values of Mount Athos
The American Orthodox Church was in deep crisis at the time of Elder Efrem’s relocation to the United States. The modernist innovations of Archbishop (later Ecumenical Patriarch) Atinagore (Spiru) led to the deprivation of the Church of its isychastic and ascetic character. American Orthodoxy has lost its spiritual depth and universal perspective, becoming only an ethnographic club for those immigrants who mourn for the Fatherland.
Wonderful “GREEN” Monastery In The Desert
A WONDER IN THE DESERT: The Monastery of St. Anthony in Arizona
The brethren of St. Anthony was founded in 1995 in a waterless and dry desert. Elder Ephraim had originally planned to build a monastery elsewhere, but he thoughtfully turned out of the way and found himself in a desert place between Phoenix and Tucson. Eyewitnesses say that at that moment they clearly heard the sound of the bell, incredibly similar to the bell in the native monastery of Father Ephrem – the monastery of Philotheus. “We will build a monastery here,” the old man said at the time.
Bishop Antony, the Bishop of San Francisco, could not believe the story for a long time, until he himself, once, several years later, heard a similar sound. He was approaching St. Anthony’s monastery under construction when he heard the bells ring. As they found out a few minutes later, the sound was of supernatural origin, since the monks themselves did not ring.
Around the monastery, at the blessing of the old man, 1,200 yards of land were purchased, on which 3,000 olive trees, oranges, lemons, grapefruits, pistachios, grapes and palm trees were planted. To prevent the trees from drying, water was found miraculously during underground excavations. Saint Antony the Great answered Elder Ephraim’s prayers and showed him where to start digging the well. At a depth of 980 m, water was found that was sufficient to transform the environment from the desert into a flower oasis.
There are now more than two thousand species of plants in the monastery garden, despite the fact that Arizona summer temperatures reach 40-45 degrees Celsius. In its surroundings, the monastery brothers raised fountains, erected street lamps and built roads.
Today, looking at the magnificent paradise garden and magnificent temples erected by the brethren of the mmonastery of St. Anthony, we can hardly believe that when the six Atonic monks first came here, there was no water, no roads, no electricity. Four trailers were used as the original accommodation for Elder Ephrem and his followers. Monks were forced to work in an environment full of poisonous snakes and dangerous bloodthirsty animals. Elder Ephraim, who wished to build a monastery in the desert, was considered by the locals insane. Even the success of his activity was doubted by the Orthodox people.
But time passed and temples and main buildings appeared at the site of the small trailers, and the number of brethren increased from seven to forty-five people. The main cathedral temple of the monastery is dedicated to the Reverend Antony the Great and Saint Nectarius of Egina. Six more temples are dedicated to the Reverend Seraphim of Sarov, the prophet Elijah, the great martyr Panteleimon, the great martyr George, the great martyr Dimitri, St. Nicholas and John the Baptist.
A Holy Place Where Everything is Free
According to visitor numbers, St. Anthony’s pilgrims ranks second in the state of Arizona, just slightly behind the Grand Canyon – one of the major U.S. attractions.
THERE WERE ONLY SAND AND SERPES BEFORE IN THE MONASTERY WHICH WAS BUILD BY ELDER EPHRAIM.
The Monastery of St. Anthony runs a huge charity. The monks provide lodging for the pilgrims and assist anyone who seeks it. In the city of Tucson, just south of the monastery, an assistant center for the poor and unmarried women was built upon the blessing of Elder Jefrem.
The current abbot of St. Anthony’s Monastery is the Hieromonk Paisius fromt mout Athos- one of the first five settlers of the monastery, who came to the United States from Mount Athos along with Elder Ephraim. Elder Ephrem is not concerned with the running of the monastery, but he the spiritual father of all the monasteries they established. Also, Father Ephrem is a spiritual teacher for thousands of laymen coming to Arizona from all sides of the planet.
The significance of Elder Efrem’s mission can hardly be overstated. “We, American bishops and priests, have wanted to attract people to the Church by organizing festivals for seventy years. That is, we organized holidays and celebrations, we welcomed people with drinks, food and fun. We have forgotten prayer, confession, fasting, prayer ropes – all that makes the Commitment of our Church. We were even against the construction of the monasteries, since we thought that there was no need for them and that they could give nothing to our Church. And here, the smallest man came to us, without world education and theological degrees, without the innovative and bold ideas (which we had in abundance) and reminded us of the most important – our Orthodox Tradition. He did not invite games and parties, but called for fasting and participation in many hours of vigil. And people responded to his call, came to the old man and supported him. The number of those who come to Father Ephraim cannot be counted. America, preparing to break free from consumerism and the enslavement of material culture through various social movements (for example, hippies) and Eastern religions, has revealed to itself a true unchallenged Christianity – Orthodoxy “- these are the words of Father Anthony (Moshonas), who died as a longtime devotee of the Orthodox Temple in Tusan City.
Saint Elder Joseph Hesychast - spiritual father of Elder Ephraim
According to Ephraim’s father, the dike of the Scythian St. Andrew the Firstborn on Mount Athos, “Elder Ephraim was subjected to excessive and severe slander and attacks.” But despite the constant commissioned critical reporting on American television and in the press, he did not put his hands down but continued his missionary service. Ephraim the Philotean is a living example of a great ascetic who, with his life, proved the correctness of the words of Seraphim Sarovsky, “Save yourself, and thousands will be saved around you.”
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