Elder Ephraim of Arizona (1928 – 2019): Father Dimitrios Tsourous who knew him closely speaks to NeaProni

“I had the feeling that I was perhaps talking to a saint, who showed the right way to the Orthodox Greeks – The miracle I experienced”

“I had the blessing of getting to know Elder Ephraim of Arizona, a charismatic Greek hieromonk and missionary, who by the Grace of God established a total of 19 monasteries—17 in the USA and 2 in Canada. In the opinion of many, he possessed holy spiritual gifts and showed Orthodox Greeks the right path. When I met him, I had the feeling that I was perhaps talking to a saint, while I was experiencing a form of miracle,” priest Dimitrios Tsourous, who currently serves at the Church of Agioi Anargyroi in the Nea Smyrni area of Greece, tells NeaProini with emotion.

Elder Ephraim, born in 1928 in Volos, became a monk on Mount Athos at the age of 20. In 1979, he moved to Canada and subsequently to the USA, where he settled permanently, carrying out significant and blessed work. He passed away in 2019 at the age of 91 at St. Anthony’s Monastery in Arizona. Many believe that his canonization is only a matter of time.

“Elder Ephraim, the so-called Arizonan, who served as abbot at the Monastery of Filotheos on Mount Athos before undertaking the great task of transmitting Athonite monasticism to the United States, is a remarkable phenomenon. Throughout the history of the Church, there have been such phenomena, but I would say that Elder Ephraim was exceptional,” Father Dimitrios continues. “The first encounter with this world of monasteries, both men’s and women’s, primarily located in the United States and Canada, is fascinating. The monks in these monasteries are mostly Greek-Americans. There are a few from Greece, as well as Americans, who not only became Orthodox but also embraced the monastic life.”

Father Dimitrios remembers with reverence and emotion his first meeting with Elder Ephraim:

“I was blessed to meet Ephraim in the autumn of 2002. I was in America to study Business Administration. I had heard from Greece and Mount Athos that in the United States there was a blossoming of monastic life beginning to take root, with monasteries sprouting in various American states under the spiritual stewardship of Elder Ephraim. He had established a spiritual lineage himself, without, of course, being the abbot of each monastery. All the monasteries and their abbots were, in a way, connected to Elder Ephraim. Having heard all of this, which is fascinating, especially considering that when someone visits and lives in the United States, what catches their attention is American culture and its many achievements, as well as the American way of life we are familiar with through cinema. So, when you hear that there is someone with roots in Mount Athos, it makes you feel special. For that reason, and also for spiritual reasons, I booked tickets and went to Arizona to its central monastery, where Elder Ephraim was living at the time. I was impressed by the location. We were in a desert with cacti everywhere and a vast horizon. There, in the midst of a sprawling desert area, you see an oasis. In that oasis stands a monastic community. Ephraim had a reputation as a very spiritual man from Greece.”

“I confessed and talked with him. I remember that the entire monastery area had a positive impact on me. When we meet people of this caliber, we try to benefit by learning from them without, of course, deifying them. They are, of course, human beings. They are not infallible. But they have something meaningful to share.”

Father Dimitrios’ second meeting with Elder Ephraim occurred in the same year (2002). “I had traveled from Massachusetts, where I was studying, to the Monastery in Arizona. I remember that I had an outstanding debt at a hospital because I had undergone an MRI scan. Thank God, I didn’t have the means to pay—it was a very expensive test, costing over $2,000, and ultimately my insurance didn’t cover it. This situation caused me significant concern because I was receiving notifications from the hospital that I needed to pay. I was unable to do so. I thought I should mention it to Ephraim because it was something that really distressed me. The Elder was praying with his rosary and listening to me attentively while praying at the same time. He advised me to send a letter to the hospital, explaining that I was a student and could not afford to pay. When I returned to Massachusetts, however, I hesitated to send such a letter. One day, I called the hospital and told the clerk that I wanted to send them a letter stating that I was a student and could not afford to pay. Eventually, I sent it, and when I called back after some time—and in the meantime, I had stopped receiving notices—the hospital responded that there was no debt in my name. I was stunned. It was a form of miracle from Ephraim. I remember he had told me earlier, ‘Don’t worry, my child, everything will be fine.'”

“The third time I saw Ephraim was in 2005. I was studying at Holy Cross Theological Seminary in Boston. I had confessed to the Elder, and he had given me some valuable advice. I had the feeling that I was perhaps talking to a saint. Through his monastic and missionary work, Ephraim created a fascination that captivates the minds of many Christians. One man managed, by the grace of God, to secure the resources needed to establish 19 monasteries. This achievement brings a delightful surprise to many Greeks and serves as an element of praise to God. Finally, it should be noted that among the top ten tourist destinations in the State of Arizona is the monastery that Elder Ephraim created in the region, which represents a promotion of Greece and monasticism.”