Orthodox Parish of St. Ephraim the Syrian

The lack of medical care in the age of Ephraim tended to cause gout symptoms. It was very difficult in their time for them to know if they suffered from gout. Primitive medical care usually did not identify the symptoms and signs of gout.

Often gout was left untreated and could be fatal in Ephraim’s time.  Ephraim wrote hymns, sermons, biblical verses, and poems in the 4^th century. His works were considered an early form of Christianity as we know it today. He has been noted as the most significant of all the fathers of the Syriac church.

He was born around the year 306, in a small Turkish town called Nisbis.  At this time there was very little medicine and identifying the gout symptoms was very difficult. Many people would suffer for years from the pain and not realize what it was they were suffering from.  During Ephraim’s time Christianity was legalized in the Roman Empire. This happened in 337 by Emperor Constantine I, who promoted and legalized the practice of Christianity. When a battle broke out in 338, 346 and 350 Ephraim stated that Bishop Jacob helped to defend the city with his prayers.

Over the course of his life he composed many hymns; over four hundred of those hymns still exist today. When you look back on the lack of medical care it is sad to think that many of the sufferers just had gout symptoms. This could have been easily treated and managed but because of the lack of care many people died from it. As we evolved it is good to see how medical technology has evolved as well.