Archbishop Elpidophoros of America referred to Elder Ephraim’s huge contribution to the development of Orthodox monasticism in America and his personality.
In his contribution to the Monastery of St. Anthony in Arizona, the Archbishop referred, among other things, to Elder Ephraim who, as he said, “with his ascetic simplicity, but full missionary zeal, not only transferred the Orthodox monastic tradition to America and Canada, but also became the founder of dozens of monastic communities and, let me say, sanctified the New World with his prayerful presence.”
“In his petraheli,” said Archbishop Elpidophoros, “thousands of souls have rested because his concern was not only to bring people close to Christ and the Church but also to make them fighters against the passions and sirens of this century.”
“Elder Ephraim and his disciples and children around the world,” he added, “are the genuine bearers of the Orthodox hesychastic tradition of Saint Joseph the Hesychast, the brave soldier of Christ who harvested the honey of silence, envied the ancient ascetics and emerged as a model of ascetic life and pure prayer.”
As the Archbishop of America stressed, Elder Ephraim received war from those who did not know sufficiently the spiritual value of monasticism and did not see the potential of the monastic life. “However, the Elder, having made insurmountable efforts, pains, and tears, with exemplary patience and especially with evangelical love and forgiveness for man, convinced even the most skeptical, and was an example and light in the darkness of spiritual ignorance.”
Archbishop Elpidophoros called on everyone to follow the example of Saint Joseph and Elder Ephraim by embracing “our martyred Phanar. To love it, to respect it, to cover it, to protect it. We should pray for our Patriarch and the members of the Patriarchal Court who fight daily for the testimony of faith. Our Ecumenical Patriarchate is the center of our Orthodoxy, is, according to the decisions of our Ecumenical Synods, the First-throne Church and has the care of all Churches.”