humiliated and imprisoned John at Antioch, where he died in 538. In 537/538, Ephraim held a synod at Antioch, which was attended by 132 bishops, and declared his approval of the synod held at Constantinople in 536 and condemned Severus of Antioch. Syncleticus, Archbishop of Tarsus, and his syncellus Stephen, who were suspected of adherence to Eutychianism, were considered by the synod, but were acquitted after a confession of faith. Eruption of war between the Sassanians and Romans led Antioch to come under siege by Sassanian forces in 540. Ephraim unsuccessfully attempted to pay the Sassanians to relieve their siege on several occasions, however, the Sassanians seized the city and Ephraim fled to Cilicia, where he remained until the Romans retook Antioch. The cathedral of Antioch and its buildings were spared destruction after Ephraim paid the Sassanian forces in precious objects. In 542, Ephraim travelled to Jerusalem, where he met with six Sabaite monks who had been expelled from their monasteries by Origenists. The monks appealed to the saint to act against Origenism. Ephraim then attended the Synod of Gaza alongside Hypatius, Archbishop of Ephesus, and Patriarch Peter of Jerusalem and condemned and deposed Patriarch Paul of Alexandria. Ephraim held a synod at Antioch in 542 in which he condemned Origen and supporters of his doctrines. In an attempt to heal the rift between supporters and opponents of the council of Chalcedon, Emperor Justinian I issued an edict in late 543 or early 544 that condemned the so-called Three Chapters, thus beginning the Three-Chapter Controversy. The saint initially refused to agree to the edict, however, the emperor threatened Ephraim with deposition, after which he agreed to condemn the Three Chapters, and wrote to Pope Vigilius to declare he had only agreed under force. Ephraim died in the following year. References Bibliography 545 deaths Church Fathers Greek Orthodox Patriarchs of Antioch Byzantine saints Year of birth unknown Syrian archbishops Roman governors of Syria 6th-century Byzantine bishops 5th-century Byzantine bishops 5th-century births Syrian Christian saints 5th-century Christian saints 6th-century Christian saints 5th-century Christian theologians 6th-century Christian theologians Comites Orientis Miracle workers Ancient Christians involved in controversies 6th-century Byzantine writers 6th-century archbishops