The Story of Saint Ephrem the Syrian Potter Who Composed the Praise Hymn Called “Weddase Maryam” Over Seven Days
Introduction
A miracle [performed] by Our Lady Mary, Holy Twofold Virgin, the Mother of God, may her prayers and blessings be with her servant(s) {{Servant's Names}} in the morning and evening, forever and ever, amen.
Listen, my fathers and brothers, so that we might tell you about the great miracle that Our Lady Mary, Holy Twofold Virgin, the Mother of God, performed. As God is my witness, the holy fathers told us about this miracle, and I’ve added nothing nor taken anything away from the story.
The holy fathers told us about a God-fearing potter living in Syria who loved Our Lady Mary, Holy Twofold Virgin, the Mother of God. He praised her from the depths of his heart.
Monday
Early Monday morning, Our Lady Mary, Holy Twofold Virgin, the Mother of God, appeared to that potter with great majesty, clothed in light and with angels encircling her.
She said to the potter, “My dear beloved one, and my son’s beloved one, peace be upon you. I have come to you now so that you may praise me abundantly, which will be how I will be remembered forever.”
The potter replied, “My dear Lady, I am weak and useless. Am I [even] able to praise you? Instead, bless me with your holy hand, dear Treasury of Blessing.”
Mary said, “May the blessing of the Holy Spirit be with you, amen.”
When she said this, the grace of the Holy Spirit filled him, and the potter opened his mouth and said:
“The Lord wanted to free Adam, whose heart was sad and despairing,
To return Adam to his previous seat. . . .”
[In this way,] he effortlessly composed the Praise of Mary for Monday, while the Holy Spirit spoke with the potter’s mouth.
And once he had completed her praise, Our Lady Mary, Holy Twofold Virgin, the Mother of God, blessed him, thanked him, and gave him peace.
Then Mary ascended to heaven while being loudly praised [by the angels].
Tuesday
On Tuesday, Mary came to him again, saying to Ephrem, “Peace be upon you, my dear beloved one! Please praise me today, just as the Holy Spirit inspired you [to do before].”
He replied, “Bless me [first].”
So she blessed him, and he opened his mouth and said:
“The crown of our praise, the beginning of our rescue, the foundation of our purity,
[All] happened through Our Lady Mary, Holy Twofold Virgin, the Mother of God. . . .”
[He composed the Praise of Mary for Tuesday] through to the end.
Then Mary rejoiced, blessed him, and gave him peace. Then she ascended to heaven while being loudly praised [by the angels].
Wednesday
On Wednesday, Our Lady Mary, Holy Twofold Virgin, the Mother of God, came to Ephrem again.
She said to him, “Peace be upon you, dear man of God,” and she blessed him.
She continued, [saying,] “Praise me, just as you have been.”
Ephrem opened his mouth and said:
“All the heavenly hosts declare that you are blessed,
Our Lady Mary, Holy Twofold Virgin, the Mother of God, the Second Heaven. . . .”
[Thus, he composed the Praise of Mary for Wednesday] through to the end.
Thursday
Likewise, on Thursday, she came to him, and he praised her, saying:
“Our Lady Mary, Holy Twofold Virgin, the Mother of God, resembles the burning bush that Moses saw in the wilderness.
Whose branches were not burned up. . . .”1
[Thus, he composed the Praise of Mary for Thursday] through to the end.
Friday
Then, on Friday, Our Lady Mary, Holy Twofold Virgin, the Mother of God, appeared to him again, sitting upon a glowing throne.
She said to him, “Peace be upon you, my dear beloved one. Please praise him with your sweet melody.”
He replied:
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb,
Dear Virgin, Mother of God. . . .”2
[Thus, he composed the Praise of Mary for Friday] through to the end.
Then she blessed him, made him happy, and ascended into heaven while being loudly praised [by the angels].
Saturday
Likewise, on Saturday, Our Lady Mary, Holy Twofold Virgin, the Mother of God, came to Ephrem, saying, “May joy and peace be with you, my dear beloved one!”
After he got up [from his bed], he bowed down to her.
She said to him, “Please praise me today, just as the Holy Spirit inspired you [to do before].”
He replied, “Bless me [first].”
So she blessed him, and he opened his mouth and said:
“You are considered pure and luminous and holy by everyone,
You who cradled the Lord with your arms.
All of creation rejoices with you, shouting and declaring,
‘Rejoice, Full of Grace! Rejoice, for you have found favor! Rejoice, for God is with you!’”
[Thus, he composed the Praise of Mary for Saturday through to the end.]
When he had finished praising her, she thanked him and ascended into heaven while being loudly praised [by the angels].
Sunday
Early Sunday morning, he drank [a little too much] wine and fell asleep.
In the middle of Sunday night, Our Lady Mary, Holy Twofold Virgin, the Mother of God, showed up, saying to him, “Why didn’t you praise me today?! This is the most important day of the week. Today’s praise ought to be the best of all of them!”
Ephrem said to her, “My dear Lady, today is Sunday, the day of rest. Christians do not work on Sundays.”
Mary replied, “Don’t worry [about what you will say. Just] get out of bed, stand at your workplace, and say whatever the Holy Spirit inspires you to say.”
After he got up, she blessed him, and then he kissed the cross in her hand.3
He stood at his workplace, where he made pottery, and opened his mouth, saying:
“You are called love, dear blessed one among women!
You are the second chamber, called the Holy of Holies, housing the tablet of the covenant. . . .”
Then he began to praise her [by singing the lyrics] with the three melodies[, which are called Ge’ez, Ezel, Araray].4
He continued until it was morning.
At daybreak, Mary blessed Ephrem, saying, “My dear beloved one, may joy be with you, just as you have brought me joy. Just as you have praised me on earth, I will delight you in the kingdom of heaven. Just as you have toiled on earth to commemorate me with praise, I will give you a reward in the kingdom of heaven for your toil, which is endless joy.”
It happened just as she had promised him.
Conclusion
So now, my beloved brothers, look at the extent of the love of God, and the love of Our Lady Mary, Holy Twofold Virgin, the Mother of God, for humanity. She will come down from heaven for a few good works, and she will bless those who love her and commemorate her.
Now, let’s love Our Lady Mary, the Holy Virgin, and praise her as much as we can! And let’s show mercy to the poor for the sake of Our Lady Mary, the Holy Virgin. Let’s do good works and love one another. Let’s pray to Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and Our Lady Mary, the Holy Virgin.
May the prayer and blessings of Our Lady Mary, Holy Twofold Virgin, the Mother of God, be with her servant(s) {{Servant's Names}} who loves her without limits, forever and ever, amen.
In Syria there was a potter named Ephrem who feared God and loved Mary. Every evening for six days, Mary visited and blessed him. After each blessing, inspired with the Holy Spirit, Ephrem recited hymns of praise in her honor. On the seventh day, he fell asleep after drinking wine. Mary visited him at midnight and demanded to know why he had not composed anything for her, on the very day when he should have the most praise. Ephrem replied that it was the Sabbath, during which the faithful are commanded not to work. Mary told him to go to his pottery workshop and to say whatever words came to him there. Ephrem obeyed Mary, and once in his workshop he praised her through the night. Pleased, Mary promised him never-ending joy in heaven.
- An allusion to Exodus 3.
- An allusion to Luke 1:42.
- Her behavior toward Ephrem is that of a priest, blessing him, and offering her cross to be kissed.
- These three melodies are used for the liturgy: ግዕዝ (Ge’ez), ዕዝል (Ezel), and ዓራራይ (Araray).
