The Holy and Glorious Martyr Irene (321-23); Our Venerable Father Nicephoras, Hegumen of the Monastery at Medicius
Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.
Acts 10:44-11:10; John 8:21-30
Read John 8:21-30
Christ is risen! Truly, He is risen!
Today we commemorate an amazing Christian woman: the Holy and Glorious Martyr Irene (321-23). She was born in the city of Magedon in Persia. Her father was named Licinius, the pagan ruler of a certain small kingdom, and her mother’s name was Licinia. At birth her parents named her Penelope. Licinius kept her isolated in a high tower from the age of six so that she would not encounter Christianity. She received all the best possible luxuries and education. Her tutor was Apellian, an old Christian man, who told the girl about Christ and taught her about the Christian faith.
One night Penelope had a vision of a dove entered the tower with an olive branch in its beak, depositing it on the table. An eagle also flew in carrying a wreath of flowers, and left it on the table. Then a raven flew in through another window and dropped a snake on the table. In the morning she asked Apellian to help her understand this vision. He explained that the dove symbolized her superior education, and that the olive branch represented the grace of God which is received in Baptism. The eagle and the olive branch indicated success in her future life. The snake signified that she would experience suffering and sorrow.
When it was time to think about marriage Penelope understood that the Lord wished to betroth her to Himself, but Penelope would undergo much suffering for her heavenly Bridegroom. After this Penelope refused marriage, was baptized and named Irene—this name means Peace. Shortly after being baptized, she smashed all her father’s idols to pieces. When Licinius learned that his daughter was baptized and refused to worship the pagan gods, he was furious. He tried to force her from Christ by having her tortured. Irene was tied up and thrown beneath the hooves of wild horses so that they might trample her to death, but the horses remained motionless. Instead one of the horses charged Licinius and trampled him to death. Irene prayed and through her prayers Licinius rose unharmed. Then, Licinius and his wife were baptized as Christians, along with almost 3000 others. Licinius abandoned his kingdom and lived in the tower he had built for his daughter, where he spent the rest of his life repenting.
From that moment onward Irene began to give herself to preaching Christ and bringing many to salvation. Sedekias, the new prefect, upset about this summoned the saint to him and urged her to stop preaching. When she refused he threw her into a pit of snakes for ten days, but she was unharmed. The more he tortured her the more people were converted to the faith. His son Sapor took over reign and continue his father’s persecution of the saint, but the more he persecuted her the more people were converted to Christ, until finally he died.
As Irene continued her mission of converting many to Christ and suffering persecution from every authority she encountered in every town. On one occasion as she travelled to the city of Constantina, forty miles northeast of Edessa, the Persian king Sapor II arrested her and beheaded her; however the Lord raised her up and she walked back to the city. Upon seeing her he converted and was baptized.
She continued to preach, performed many miracles and converted thousands of people until the Lord revealed to her that her time on earth was coming to an end. It was soon after that she gave her life back to the Lord in one final witness. She is prayed to by those hoping to receive a blessing for a happy marriage. In Greece, she is also the patron saint of policemen. Through the prayers of St. Irene—a bold preacher and miracle worker—Christ out God have mercy on us and save us. Amen.