Collection: A Spiritual Psalter or Reflections on God

This collection of Saint Ephraim the Syrian’s sacred compositions — words of praise, instruction, and repentance — was compiled by a 19th century Russian bishop, Saint Theophan the Recluse, who undertook this  labor with great zeal, considering no one more capable of waking up a sleeping soul than Saint Ephraim. After receiving the first edition of this book (in Russian), Saint Theophan wrote to his publisher, congratulating him on the “magnificent” result. Inspired by Saint Theophan’s zeal and the testament of many English speakers who have benefited from this text since its original release in English (in 1997), we have striven to publish editions of this book that are also suitably magnificent. 

In introducing his compilation, Saint Theophan writes that “…it is the duty of every Christian to harbor in himself the spirit of grace. The best means to do so is prayer. He who harbors grace in himself prays as he should, for the strength of grace moves in him. But he who has not yet reached this state must nurture prayer in himself. Inner prayer is nurtured by means of prayers which have poured forth from souls inflamed with grace, prayers which move the spirit...” And, “…in presenting this Psalter it is our sincere wish that everyone who opens it may find in it something for which his spirit yearns, be it instruction or contrition, inspiration or solace.”

Together with the compiler, we pray that “the Lord grant this to all of us through the prayers of our Holy Father Ephraim the Syrian.”