Born in Nineveh. In his youth, he practiced asceticism in the Mar-Matthias Monastery, not far from his birthplace. When he became famous for his saintly life and the miracles he performed, he was elected Bishop of Nineveh. He refused to accept this position, but was forced to do so. He remained on the episcopal throne for only five months, and then, secretly, he withdrew to the desert monastery of Raban-Shabur. He composed many instructive works, of which we have a hundred sermons on spiritual life and asceticism, which were written mainly on the basis of personal experience. He was a great leader in spiritual life, so even such saints as Simeon the Great sought his advice. He reposed in the Lord at the end of the 7th century, in a very old age.

Venerable Ephraim the Syrian. Venerable Palladius. Venerable Ephraim of the Caves.