A SPIRITUAL PSALTER

OR

Reflections on God

excerpted by

Bishop Theophan the Recluse

from the works of our Holy Father

Ephraim the Syrian

arranged in the manner of the Psalms of David

translated by

Antonina Janda

together with

The Life of St. Ephraim

translated by

Br. Isaac E. Lambertsen

Published by

The St. John of Kronstadt Press

1180 Orthodox Way

Liberty TN 37095 USA

615/536-5239

www.sjkp.org

ISBN 0-912927-40-2

©1997 The St. John of Kronstadt Press

second printing, with minor revisions

©2004 The St. John of Kronstadt Press

Translation from the Russian of

A Spiritual Psalter and its Preface

©1990 Antonina Janda

Translation of

The Life of St. Ephraim

©1989 Br. Isaac E. Lambertsen

from the Russian Lives of the Saints in the Russian Language, As Set Forth in the Menology of St. Dimitry of Rostov, Vol. V (January) (Moscow: Synodal Press, 1904), pp. 890–899. Addendum concerning the famine from the Lausiac History of Palladius, Ancient Christian Writers series, No. 34, translated by Robert T. Meyer, Ph.D.; Newman Press; New York. Additional material concerning St. Ephraim translated by a monk of Holy Trinity Monastery.

B&W (black) halftone of icon of St. Ephraim; supplied with Vaughan negatives

Acknowledgements

Wending its way from 4th century Syria to present-day North America, this book is the fruit of the labors of many faithful Orthodox Christians. The inspired theological poetry of St. Ephraim was selected and edited by the holy Bishop Theophan the Recluse to create this Spiritual Psalter, brought to life in 19th century Russia by the labors of many others as well. The translation of the text by the handmaiden of God Antonina was undertaken with the blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan Vitaly, of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. Both the Psalter and the Life of St. Ephraim, translated by the Reader Isaac, were originally published in Living Orthodoxy, published with the blessing of His Grace Archbishop Hilarion of Australia and New Zealand. Invaluable contributions to the editing process have come from the servants of God Peter, Matthew and Gabriel; the departed handmaiden of God Irina (tonsured Sophia); and the handmaiden of God Anastasia. The English publication could never have been brought to press without the contributions of those too numerous to mention who over the past seven years have “voted with their wallets” by contributing toward publication of a book which they would only receive “some day”—but above all the servant of God Thomas, whose generous contributions brought about the realization of the dream. As well, remembrance must be made of the children of God Marie and Lou, whose material assistance has made possible the leap by the Press into new levels of productivity.

Please remember them all, as well as the countless supporters of the work of the St. John of Kronstadt Press, in your prayers of thanksgiving as you benefit from this work.

Remember them all, O Lord, in Thy Kingdom!