I met Saint Ephraim in 2013, at the monastery where I periodically went for confession: a monk had brought a copy of a myrrh-streaming icon of the Saint from Greece for veneration. News of this icon spread, and numerous faithful began to come to venerate it. It was also here, at the monastery, that I met my husband.
Our marriage didn't take too long, but the few months preceding it were full of great trials: my spiritual father was very skeptical of our desire, even opposing it! We thus decided that, until Easter, when I was due to return for confession, we would pray more, and even ask for the help of the Holy Great Martyr Ephraim the New, as we kept hearing everywhere that he was a great wonderworker – although, I admit, I didn't have complete hope, especially since I knew from experience that my spiritual father's words were non-negotiable...
As "coincidence" would have it, that year, Easter fell on May 5th, the feast day of the Saint. And our joy was immense when, upon entering the spiritual father's cell, he greeted us with gladness and gave us the much-desired marriage blessing, even inviting us to join him at the Easter meal. We felt so much joy and peace then! Saint Ephraim had not only granted our request but had also taught us something very important: to pray diligently to have the Lord's blessing in our lives.
Thus, the Holy Great Martyr Ephraim the New became the protector of our family. At the wedding service, the icon of the Saint, gifted by our godparents, adorned the table in the middle of the church, when a friend asked us: "Why did you put the priest's picture on the table?!"... Indeed, my husband's spiritual father, who performed the Mystery of Crowning, greatly resembles the Saint, but in that question, I also felt the presence of our much-loved protector, seemingly confirmed "in reality" through the eyes of a wedding guest.
Years passed... Saint Ephraim was always with us through his icon, but, I admit, I often forgot to ask for his help. Until one day when I realized almost four years had gone by and we had no children... We then decided to read the Akathist of our patron Saint daily – and, of course, God and His Saints never remain indebted, and despite complicated diagnoses, we brought a baby girl into the world whom we baptized Maria, with the hope that Saint Ephraim would intercede for a baby boy too, as it's not easy to call a little girl by the name "Ephraimia"!
Years flew by again... Maria was already four years old, but no little brother appeared. This time, more infirmities had emerged, but we still decided to learn our Saint's troparion and say it as often as we could. The miracle happened shortly after we celebrated ten years of marriage: with great joy, we managed to fulfill our vow to have a baby boy named after the Holy Great Martyr Ephraim, born exactly 14 days before the Saint's feast day!
Last but not least, another amazing "coincidence" in our lives is the fact that my husband's parents, who recently celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, got married on a May 5th... And behold, it's as if Saint Ephraim has always been with us and reveals himself at every step!
Georgeta