Saint Irene

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Saint Irene is the title of several different saints in the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches. Each is associated with a different feast day.

[edit] Greek Saint Irene

One of the best known saints named Irene is the Greek Saint Irene ("Holy Peace"). She and her sisters, Saint Agape ("Holy Love") and Saint Chionia ("Snow-White"), were three young girls of Thessalonica. Irene's Acts say that she was caught in possession of the Scriptures despite a prohibition issued by Emperor Diocletian in 303 A.D..

Following the martyrdom of her sisters, Irene was also commanded to deny the Christian faith. Like her sisters, she refused. Therefore, the provincial governor, Dulcitius, sent her to a bordello. When she remained unmolested, though exposed naked and chained, she was put to death. Some accounts say Irene was burned to death like her sisters. Others claim that she died when an arrow pierced her throat.

Irene is venerated more in the Eastern Orthodox Church than in the Roman Catholic Church. The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates a feast day honoring Saint Irene on 5 May.^[1]

The Greek island of Santorini is named for Saint Irene.

[edit] Other saints named Irene

There are several other saints named Irene.

Martyr Irene has a feast day celebrated on April 3.
New Martyr Irene of Lesbos has a feast day celebrated on April 9. The New Martyrs of Lesbos, Sts. Raphael, Nicholas and Irene were martyred by the Turks on Bright Tuesday (April 9, 1463).
Martyr Irene of Corinth and companions have a feast day celebrated on April 16. The Holy Martyr Leonidas and the Holy Martyrs Charissa, Nike, Galina, Kalisa (Kalida), Nunekhia, Basilissa, and Theodora suffered at Corinth in the year 258.
Greatmartyr Irene of Thessalonica has a feast day celebrated on May 5. The holy Great Martyr Irene was born in the city of Magedon in Persia during the fourth century. She was the daughter of the pagan king Licinius.
St Irene with her husband St George and children of Constantinople have a feast day celebrated on May 13.
Martyr Irene of Egypt has a feast day celebrated on June 5. The women martyrs Irene and Selenia were natives of Egypt and suffered during the reign of Maximian (305-311) along with Sts. Marcian, Nicander, Hyperechius, Apollonius, Leonidas, Arius, Gorgias, and Pambo.
St. Irene Chrysovolantou has a feast day celebrated on July 28. Saint Irene was the daughter of a wealthy family from Cappadocia, and was born in the ninth century. She gave her wealth to the poor and became a nun. The purported hand of St. Irene Chrysovalantou is currently preserved at The Sacred Patriarchal and Stavropegial Monastery of St. Irene Chrysovalantou Link in Astoria, Queens, New York City.
Martyr Irene of Egypt has a feast day celebrated on September 18. Saint Irene endured martyrdom with Sts. Sophia and Castor in Alexandria.
Saint Irene of Tomar has a feast day celebrated on October 20.
Saint Irene of Rome has a feast day celebrated on January 22. She was the wife of Saint Castulus.