Elder Ephraim of Arizona

Archimandrite Ephraim (Moraitis, also known as Ephraim of Philotheos, Greek: Εφραίμ Φιλοθεΐτης and Ephraim of Arizona, Greek: Εφραίμ Αριζόνας). (June 24, 1928, Volos, Thessaly, Greece – December 7, 2019, St. Anthony Monastery, Arizona, USA) was a Greek clergyman of the American Archdiocese of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople.

Archimandrite Ephraim
Archimandrite
Native name
Ιωάννης Μωραΐτης
ChurchGreek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Personal details
Born
Ioannis Moraitis

(1928-06-24)24 June 1928
Volos, Thessaly, Greece
Died7 December 2019(2019-12-07) (aged 91)
Arizona, USA
NationalityGreek
DenominationGreek Orthodoxy
ProfessionTheologian

Early life and background

Archimandrite Ephraim spent his early years on Mount Athos and was disciple of a famous Athonite elder St. Joseph the Hesychast. Through the efforts of Archimandrite Ephrem, monastic life was restored in several sketes on Mount Athos.[1] In 1979, Archimandrite Ephrem visited North American cities and met with members of the Greek diaspora.[2] First he visited parishes in Canada (Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal); Then people started inviting him to the US. Similar visits have become 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 communities of North America.[3]

Missionary Work in USA and Canada
St. Anthony Monastery

Archimandrite Ephraim devoted his entire life to missionary work, which was based on the opening of 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 Marry in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania).[4] In 1995, Archimandrite Ephrem founded the now-famous monastery in the Arizona Desert in honor of Anthony the Great,[5] where he settled. Totally 19 convents were established in the United States and Canada as a result of his work.[6][7]

Archimandrite Ephraim died at St. Anthony Monastery, Arizona, on December 7, 2019, at the age of 91.[8]

References
  1. "Elder Ephraim of Arizona Offers Greece Sound Advice for Turbulent Day Ahead". July 28, 2010.
  2. "Schema-Archimandrite Ephraim (Moraitis) - Canadian Orthodox History Project". orthodoxcanada.ca.
  3. "Olga Rozhneva, Alexandra Lagos. The great work of Elder Ephraim of Arizona: A conversation with Alexandra Lagos, a spiritual child of Elder Ephraim". OrthoChristian.Com.
  4. "General 1". Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery.
  5. "Geronda Ephraim". St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery.
  6. "Affiliated Monasteries". St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery.
  7. "Elder Ephraim of Arizona: Monk who saved Orthodoxy in America, built 19 monasteries and made an oasis from the Arizona desert". January 21, 2020.
  8. "Elder Ephraim Falls Asleep in the Lord, Age 91". December 11, 2019.
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