Metrical Discourses on Faith by the Blessed Mar Ephrem: Translated, with Introduction and Notes

Ephrem the Syrian’s six Metrical Discourses on Faith reflect on

issues central to or arising from the Arian controversy as it manifested

in the Syriac-speaking churches: the unique status of the Son of God,

the distinction between creator and creation, and especially the problem

of human audacity in the quest for knowledge of God. Like Ephrem’s other

works, these discourses are replete with biblical language and brimming

with creative symbolism. However, being less terse and allusive in style

than many of his other poems, they also serve as a crucial exposition of

some of his most fundamental ideas and a relatively accessible

introduction to his thought as a whole.
This is the first

complete English translation of the whole collection, accompanied by a

detailed introduction and copious explanatory notes.