Saint Irene the Great is celebrated in the Christian calendar on 5 May. According to the Orthodox tradition, Irine was the daughter of Emperor Licinius. Her parents gave her the name Penepole at birth, and even as a young girl, she was of extraordinary beauty, which is why her father wanted to protect her and raised her in isolation in a guarded tower.
Saint Irene is also known as Irine, Irina, Eiren, or even Ei Ren, and she was the daughter of the pagan emperor Licinius and the empress Licinia. When she was six years old, the emperor built for his beautiful daughter and for 13 other maidens, a pillar where he placed them because they were too smoky, and he had the kinswoman guard them. On this pillar, the maiden learned good faith from her father. She suffered many beatings and scorns from her father.
When Irene arrived in Mesembria, she was martyred by King Spur, but God resurrected her. Seeing this, the king and many people believed in Christ and were baptized. Finally, Saint Irene lay in a coffin and ordered Apelian to close it. After four days, when they opened the coffin, they saw that Irina’s body was no longer in it.
One night, the angel of God appeared to her in a dream and said: Penelope, from now on, you will no longer be called by that name, but Irina, and you will be a refuge and a shelter for many, and through you, many souls will be saved, and your name will be plentiful throughout the world. Saint Irina learned about Christ from Apelian and received baptism from Saint Timothy, a disciple of Saint Paul the Apostle.
Who was Irene?
It is said that she received the name of Irina through an angel’s call, and instead of Penelope, the angel gave her the name of Irene, teaching her the faith of Christ, and telling her that with her help, many souls would be saved. It is also said that Timothy, a disciple of Paul, came to the dance and baptized her. And when all these things came true, Saint Irene crushed her father’s idols, throwing them on the ground.
Irene is the only daughter of Licinius, king of the city of Matheson. In the early days, Irene’s name was Penelope, being so bright and beautiful that she managed to outshine all her elders. Irene lived in a tower of great heights built by her father and thirteen other maidens. Irina had a lot of wealth in her service, and all the objects were made of gold. And when she was six years old, having been taught by an older man named Apelian, she was allowed by Licinius to enter Irina.
After Zedekiah is removed from the emperor’s throne, Savory, his son, and the army with which he drove his father from the empire to take his place. Meeting Savorie before the city, Saint Irina dazzles the emperor and the host with her prayer. It is also through prayer that she makes them regain their sight. This time, the king and the ostriches subject Irene to countless torments. However, God performs another miracle, and the earth splits and swallows many of the tyrant’s minions. Those who remain alive switch to the Christian faith.
Biography of Irene
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Biblical places from the times of Irene
- Rome- Where is the exact location of Rome? Is it the same as ancient Rome?
- Italy- The italic people and the exact location of Italy
- Palmyrene Empire- Does Pamyrene still exist?
What is the biblical meaning of Irene’s name?
The names Irene, Eiran, or Elena were popular in Ancient Greece, these having a clear meaning as they were derived from the noun ”eire,” meaning peace. In Greek mythology, Irene was one of the three daughters of Zeus and Themis, who protected nature and guarded the sacred sites of Olympus.
The biblical meaning of Irene represents peace. Irene is a feminine surname from the Greek Eirene, the name of the goddess of peace in Greek mythology. The Greek name was also popular in its masculine variant, Eirenais, which translates as offered peace, dedicated to peace, peacemaker. The goddess Eirene was extremely popular among the Greeks and Romans, and Athens and Rome had temples dedicated to her.
Within the Eastern Church, there was a belief that those who received the name Irineus, Irenaeus, were blessed with the peace of Christ. Thus, on 5 May, when Saint Irina is celebrated, all Romanians named Irine, Irinel, or Irineu have their name day.
What is Saint Irene known for?
King Sapporo, the son of King Zedekiah, put iron shoes on her feet, loaded a sack of sand on her back, hitched her to a cart, and had her driven like an animal a long way beyond the city. But the angel of the Lord shook the earth, and the world opened up and swallowed up the tormentors.
Saint Irene is known for having been killed several times, but God resurrected her immediately. King Zedekiah buried her up to her neck in a pit filled with snakes and scorpions, but the angel of the Lord kept the holy virgin Mycenaean whole. Then the king tried to cut her in two with the saw, but the saw broke against her body as if the body were marble. The same king tied her to a mill wheel under a watermill and let out the stream, hoping that this would drown the virgin maiden. But the water did not flow but stood still, and the girl remained alive and unharmed.
Surviving all the tortures, many pagans renounced paganism and ran to Christ, believing and being baptized. Irina entered the city of Callinicus to preach the Gospel. The then king of the town, Numerian, threw her consecutively into three fiery metal pans. But she did not die. When Irene arrived in Mesembria, she was killed by King Spur, but God resurrected her. Seeing this, the king and many people believed in Christ and were baptized.
Key Verse related to Irene
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me, like Irene through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become ideally one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”
Saint Irene, the Great Martyr
Saint Irene, or the bringer of peace. She protects marriages and speeds up the marriage of singles. Praying to her is said to work miracles and grant wishes, especially for those who want to find a partner. Her conversion to Christianity infuriated her father, who wanted to subject her to various tortures. Thanks to the gift she received from God, Saint Irene would wonderfully convert her father to Christianity.
It was Saint Irene herself who chose Christian martyrdom, having been subjected to countless tortures. Irene entered the city of Callinicus for the preaching of the Gospel. The then king of the town, Numerian, threw her consecutively into three hot metal bulls. But she did not die. When Irina arrived in Mesembria, she was killed by King Spur, but God resurrected her. And afterward, Irene asked to be buried alive.
Saint Irene learned and felt the love of God despite being born a pagan. She is called the protector of marriages, and whoever prays sincerely to her can be blessed in a short time with a blessed marriage.
St. Irene Prayer
“Your little Lamb, Jesus, Irina, cry out with a loud voice: I love You, my Bridegroom, and in seeking You I suffer, and together I crucify myself, and together I bury myself with Your Baptism; and I suffer for You, that I may reign in You; and I die for You, that I may live for You; but as a blameless sacrifice, receive me, who with love offer myself to You. For her prayers, as a merciful One, save our souls.
Being adorned with the beauties of maidenhood, Virgin, and crowned with the coat of arms of the mentions, Irina, and sprinkled with the blood of the mutiny, and glowing with the miracles of healing, with righteous mention faith thou hast received the grace of victory for thy torment.”
Amen.
Primary Takeaways
- Irene entered the city of Callinicus to preach the Gospel. The then king of the town, Numerian, threw her consecutively into three fiery meta towalls. But she didn’t die.
- When Irene arrived in Mesembria, she was killed by King Spur, but God. The king and many of the people, seeing this, believed in ChrSeeing this, the king and many people
- Saint Irene lay in a tomb and ordered Apelian to close it. After four days, when they opened the coffin, they saw that Irine’s body was no longer in it. This is how God glorified Saint Irvine.
Conclusion
Saint Irene is honored on 5 May. Irina was the only daughter of Licinius, king of the city of Matheson. Saint Irene was born a pagan, and her name was originally Penelope. When she was six years old, her father built a tower with many rooms for her on the other side of the city. She was imprisoned in this tower, along with 13 maidens, a teacher named Caria, and Apelian, a wise older man.
She was subjected to many tortures. King Zedekiah buried her up to her neck in a pit filled with snakes and scorpions, but the angel of the Lord kept the holy virgin mutilated whole. Then the king tried to cut her in half with a saw, but the saw broke off her body as if the body were marble. The same king tied her to a mill wheel under a water mill and let out the juice, hoping that this would drown the mutilated virgin. But the water did not flow but stood still, and the virgin remained alive and unharmed.
If you enjoyed reading our article, you could play the following quiz to test your biblical knowledge about Saint Irene. May God bless you and keep you safe, you and your family! Thank you for your time!
Quizlet about Saint Irene
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Explanation of biblical words
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Bibliography
- Adams, R. M. (1984). Saints. The Journal of Philosophy, 81(7), 392-401.
- Donovan, L. A. (1999). Women’s Saints Lives in Old English Prose. Boydell & Brewer Ltd.
- Harris, T. (2016). Saints, Sinners, Saviors: Strong Black Women in African American literature. Springer.
- McLaughlin, M. (2018). Consorting with Saints. Cornell University Press.
- Mernissi, F. (1977). Women, saints, and sanctuaries. Signs: journal of women in culture and society, 3(1), 101-112.
