SAINT IRENE BYZANTINE CATHOLIC CHURCH ST IRENE

SAINT IRENE
THE VIRGIN AND GREAT MARTYR

Our Holy Mother Among the Saints, IRENE of MAGEDON,
whose memory the Holy Church celebrates on the 5th of May.

St. Irene was born in the city of Magedon and lived during the reign of Constantine the Great (306-337). The only child of her parents, King Licinius and Queen Licinia, she was given the name Penelope at birth. She was most fair and her father feared for her so at the age of six her father confined her to a tower along with thirteen other young maidens, amid whom she lived in luxury and wealth. One day a dove entered the tower bearing an olive branch in its beak and placed it on the golden table. Then an eagle flew in carrying a wreath of woven flowers in its beak and placed it on the table. Finally a raven flew in carrying a snake which it also dropped on the table. Perplexed by the meaning of these signs she turned to her tutor, Apellian, who interpreted these signs for her. "The dove makes known thy superior education; the olive branch signifies many wondrous events, and is a symbol of Baptism. The eagle, being the king of birds, foretells, by the royal crown, future success in notable endeavors. The raven and serpent disclose thy future sufferings and anguish." The elderly teacher revealed the hidden meanings of these signs and by doing so foretold the great struggle of martyrdom which the saint was to undergo for the sake of her love for God. It is said that an angel of God renamed her Irene, instructed her in the Faith of Christ, and predicted that myriads of people would be saved through her. Furthermore, Apostle Timothy, the disciple of St. Paul, would visit her in a paradoxical manner and baptize her. When this latter prophecy was fulfilled, the blessed Irene cast her father's idols to the ground, shattering them.

Her father questioned her and after seeing that she persisted in the Faith, ordered her to be bound and cast between horses so that they might trample her. However, one of the horses, instead of harming the saint, turned on Licinius and slayed him. The martyr was released from her bonds and at the request of the bystanders she prayed and resurrected her father. He came to believe in God, as did his wife, abandoned his dominion and lived the rest of his life in repentance in the tower he had built for her. Three thousand other people were also baptized.

After her father's death, Sedekias became ruler and attempted to force her to sacrifice to idols. Since she refused he cast her into a pit filled with venomous snakes and reptiles. After fourteen days she remained unscathed. Following this they tried to cut off her feet with a saw; yet, by the aid of a holy angel, she was restored to health. Next, they bound her to a wheel, but the water which turned the wheel ceased flowing, and the holy one remained unharmed. As a result of this, eight thousand people believed in Christ.

Several other rulers attempted to quiet the saint and her teachings, however, each time she emerged unscathed. Well over one hundred thousand people beleived in Christ because of St. Irene. She was an expression of the Scriptures as displayed in every aspect of her life on earth. She not only turned the other cheek but went to the aid of the parent who would have destroyed her and except for her intervention would have thereby destroyed himself. While preaching the word of Christ she encountered the ever present dangers, yet managed to outlive three emperors. In the days when women were decidedly second class citizens, she commanded the respect of men and women alike, ultimately becoming a mother figure to Christian converts drawn from ranks of the worst enemies of Jesus Christ. She had been many times martyred for Christ and those who honor her name and commemorate her feast day are also blessed.