The Monk Ephraim of Novotorzh, the founder of the Borisoglebsky Monastery in the city of Torzhok, was from Hungary. Together with his brothers, Saint Moses Ugrin (July 26) and Saint George, he left his homeland, possibly because of the persecution of the Orthodox. After coming to Russia, the brothers entered the service of the Rostov Prince Saint Boris, the son of the equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir. 
In 1015, Ephraim's brother George died along with Holy Prince Boris on the Alta River. The killers cut off his head to remove the golden hryvnia that he wore around his neck. Moses managed to escape, and he joined the ranks of the monks of the Kiev Caves Monastery. Efrem, who was obviously in Rostov at the time, arrived at the murder scene, found his brother's head and took it with him. After leaving the service at the princely court, the Monk Ephraim retired to the Tvertsa River in order to lead a secluded monastic life there. 
After several monastics settled near him, in 1038 he built a monastery in honor of the holy princes of the Passion-bearers Boris and Gleb. The brethren elected him their superior. A hospice was set up near the monastery, located not far from the trade route to Novgorod, where the poor and wanderers were kept free of charge. The Monk Ephraim died in old age, his body was buried in the monastery he had built, and in the coffin, according to his will, the head of his brother, St. George, was placed. The relics of St. Ephraim were found in 1572.