Ephrem the Syrian (ca. 306-73 CE) is the most important poet and theologian of the Syriac Christian tradition.

Born in or near Nisibis in southeast Turkey, Ephrem served as a deacon and Christian teacher there for most of his life.

Upon Rome's surrender of Nisibis to the Persian (363) Ephrem moved to Edessa, where he was said to have founded a school for Christian studies.

Given the sobriquet "Harp of the Spirit," Ephrem's numerous hymns, homilies, and commentaries were highly influential upon later generation and his poetry continues to be broadly used in the liturgies of Syriac Christian churches.