Changes

Elder Ephraim was born in 1927 in Volos, Greece, with a [[baptism]]al name of John. He grew up in poverty and helped his father at work, but always tried to emulate the pious life of his mother (who became whom he later tonsured a [[nun]] with the name of Theophano). He began to desire the monastic life around 14 years of age, but he did not get a blessing from his spiritual father to leave and become a [[monk]] until he was 19.