Abstract:
This article offers a translation of the hymn De Crucifixione 4 by Ephrem, the Syrian
theologian, which forms part of his cycle of hymns for the celebration of Easter. The symbolic
interpretation of particularly the tearing of the temple veil in this hymn – together with the
cosmic signs which occurred at the death of Jesus – is investigated. An attempt is made
to correlate Ephrem’s fierce anti-Jewish polemics with the intentions of the authors of the
Synoptic Gospels and with Ephrem’s circumstances at the probable time of composition of
the hymn.
