The Holy Hieromartyr Ephraim was born on September 14, 1384. Even in early childhood, he was left without a father, and his pious mother took over his upbringing.
By God's Providence, Saint Ephraim, at the age of 14, left his native home and went to the monastery of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos on Mount Amumnon, that is, "Immaculate", near the village of Nea Makri.
It is no accident that the Lord directed Saint Ephraim's footsteps to the Mount of the Immaculate. According to Legend, in the 10th and 11th centuries, Mount Amumnon flourished from the multitude of hermits who were on it. Envious of the equal-angelic life of the monks, many nobles, even royalty, abandoned the pleasures of this world, accepted monasticism and settled on Mount Immaculate.
Saint Ephraim, who wanted to become a monk from an early age, followed this example of the holy ascetics. He came here in order to practice asceticism in this holy place, known since ancient times, which was the spiritual center for many monks and ascetics of the Byzantine Empire.
In this monastery, the saint accepts monasticism and the priesthood and leads a harsh ascetic life, similar to the ancient ascetics and hermits of the first centuries of Christianity. So he lived for 27 years in harsh exploits.
On September 14, 1425, on the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the monastery was captured by the Turks, all the monks of the monastery were killed, and Saint Ephraim became their only prisoner. On the same day, his terrible torments began, which lasted 9 months, and which ended on May 5, 1426.
Saint Ephraim died a martyr at the age of 42. Before his death, he suffered terrible torments. The Turks severely beat him, crucified his exhausted body upside down on a tree and pierced his stomach several times with a red-hot stake. After such tortures, he still remained alive and prayed for his tormentors. Then the enraged Turks threw off his wounded body and began kicking him until the saint retreated to the Lord. This tree is still preserved in the monastery.
More than 500 years later, the Lord revealed to the abbess of this convent, Staritsa Makariya, and to the entire Orthodox world the life and relics of the holy New Martyr Ephraim, through his numerous appearances, both to the nuns of this monastery and to pious pilgrims.
On January 3, 1950, his holy relics were found, which are strongly fragrant. Many miracles and healings take place from these relics. In Greece, his veneration can be compared to the veneration of St. John the Russian, as well as the veneration of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Russia. The memory of Saint Ephraim the New Martyr is celebrated twice a year: on January 3, the day of the finding of his holy relics, and on May 5, the day of his martyrdom.