The Life and Martydom of the Great Martyr St. Irene
In the
city of Magdu or Magedon, located in Persia, a daughter was born to a King
named Licinius. She was named Penelope and at age six Licinius and his wife
decided to place her into seclusion until she reached the age of marriage.
Licinius built a castle outside of his city and adorned it with fine materials.
Penelope was to have all the comforts of the royal court. She would be attended
to by thirteen handmaidens and educated by her aged secretary and tutor,
Apellianus. She remained in strict seclusion, except for her handmaidens, and
Apellianus was only brought into her presence “with ropes by means of the
contrivances of an engine of artifices to her own high windows in the castles.”
There were curtains hung between Apellianus and Penelope when he instructed
her. King Licinius assured his daughter that his actions were for her well
being, and that he had commanded that statues of ninetyeight gods be placed
throughout the castle to watch over her.
The young
Penelope did not welcome her forced seclusion and pleaded with her father not
her shut her up within the “gates of Hades, where she shall never again hear
the sweet voice of her mother. I shall not see the sun, nor the moon, nor shall
I contemplate the brilliancy of heaven nor the stars. My eyes shall not delight
in the birds of the air, and I shall not distinguish between day and night in
my prison house.” In spite of her fears and protests, Licinius commanded that
Penelope and her handmaidens be taken to the castle, where the gates were
locked, and which the King placed the seal of his signet ring. Licinius ordered
that the door was not to be opened until the time arrived for his daughter’s
betrothal.
During
her confinement Penelope continued to be tutored by Apellianus, who was a
devote Christian. Each day the guards drew Apellianus up on ropes to the
highest windows of the castle and he taught the young women many subjects,
including the teachings of Jesus Christ. After six years and three months of
confinement, Penelope experienced a vision, which was both frightening and
wondrous. In this vision, she saw that the window on the east side of her
castle was opened, and a dove flew threw it carrying an olive-leaf in its
mouth, setting it on the table in front of her bed. Soon afterward she saw an
eagle fly into her room by the same window carrying in its mouth a wreath
adored with beautiful flowers, and it too placed on the table near her.
Penelope next saw a raven fly into her room carrying a wriggling serpent, which
was also placed on her table.
In the
morning Apellianus was brought to her window to begin her lessons. She
immediately related this vision to him and asked for his counsel. First, her
tutor asked her if the objects which the birds of heaven had laid upon her
table remained there now. She answered no, and saying they were only in her
vision. Apellianus responded excitedly saying to her:
“Hearken,
O daughter of the King! The dove which thou has seen is the doctrine of the
teaching of the Wisdom of God: and the olive-leaf is the grace of Christ, and
it announces the opening of the baptismal font. And the eagle is a great and
powerful king, and the wreath which it carried in its mouth, adorned with all
flowers, the vocation which hat called thee to espousals of the Heavenly
Bridegroom, and the perfection which is completed by faith. And the raven is
Satan the weak and crafty one, [who is] also the tempter of the righteous; and
the serpent which he carried in his mouth is affliction and anxiety, misery,
and tumult, and persecutions. Therefore, hearken, o queen and daughter of the
king to what I tell thee! Though art called to the city of the great and
Heavenly King; and thou shalt be hidden under the shadow of His wings. Though
shalt surely see much affliction upon earth. And thy father and thy mother
shall deliver thee up to thy enemies; and thy father himself shall be a
persecutor of thee; and shall mediate evil, and not good, against thee. But why
do I talk much with thee? For lo, a man of God shall be sent to thee, an angel
of peace from the presence of the mighty King of Heaven, and he will teach thee
all that is necessary to thee.”
A short
time after Penelope experienced this vision Licinius summoned his queen and
said that the day had arrived for the betrothal of their daughter. They and
others went to the castle of their daughter to release her from her seclusion.
As Penelope approached her father, he was pleased with her beauty and
composure. He informed her that the day of her betrothal was at hand and that
she should make preparations for marriage. She asked her father to allow her
seven days to think about this important event in her life. Her father
patiently agreed, saying that he would return in seven days.
Alone,
Penelope faced the idols her father had placed in her chamber and declared, “If
ye be gods, tell me beforehand. Shall I be given to a husband, or no?” There
was only stone silence. Penelope turned toward the eastern window and looked at
the sky and prayed, “Lord of the heavens and the earth, and of the seas, and of
all that move in them, if Thou are God the Almighty, Jesus the Christ, the Son
of the Living God, He whom the Galileans have preached, if it is proper for me
to make a transitory weddingfeast for myself, and to be given to a mortal man,
and a bridegroom who will perish; show me plainly They divinity.” Following
this Penelope began singing praises to God.
On that
same night she looked up and saw an angel of God standing beside her clothed
all in white. She was afraid and confused, and the angel seeing this said,
“Peace be unto thee, fear not, for behold thou has found mercy and grace before
God. I have been sent to you in order to show and teach you things that will
come. From this day forward your name shall not longer be Penelope, but Irene,
which means Peace. The angel declared that Irene will be a citadel against all
the deeds and acts of the evil one and many will find safety and peace in her,
repenting, and believing in God for her sake. The angel then stated that
everything her teacher Appllianus has told her about the birds in her dreams
was true, for he spoke by the Holy Spirit! The angel told her that a man of God
will come to you, a skilful doctor of the Church of God. He shall have a
letter, which he shall read in your presence, and then teach you the word of
God, baptizing you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. After your
baptism, power and strength will be given to you, with you will have the wisdom
of God.
On the
following day the holy priest Timothy accompanied by an angel of God come to
Irene. Irene declared to Timothy that it is time that her sins should be
confessed and her transgressions and faults be blotted out. Timothy baptized
Irene and her thirteen handmaidens who were with her. He then taught them the
faith and fear of God. Irene obtained the power and strength of God and she
lifted up the stone idols in her chambers and threw them from the eastern
window, smashing them and shouting, “stand up yourselves, if you can, and help yourselves
by your own power for you were not able to help me.”
After
seven days Irene’s Father, King Licinius, accompanied by many nobles of the
city, returned to his daughter. He announced to her that the seven days were
finished and he wanted her answer. Irene boldly declared to her Father and
those with him that she had entered the palace of the Heavenly King and
declared her love and faith in Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God. The
nobles accompanying the King declared that by these words Irene perhaps was a
Christian? Irene responded that all should know she was truly a Christian and
the handmaid of Christ and the bride of Jesus. She further announced that she
had been baptized. Irene then declared to her father and his nobles that they
were oppressors of orphans and widows, and spoilers of the poor and
unfortunate, and were enemies of righteousness and aliens from God! She called
upon them all, especially her father, to repent and turn to the living God and
embrace the resurrected Jesus Christ!
Licinius
responded to his daughter saying that he has had great patience with her owing
to her grace and beauty. He called on his guards to escort her to the city and
face his punishment. However, his wife and mother of Irene, bent down and dug
her hands into the dust where her daughter had been standing and covered her
eyes and body with it, declaring, “May this dust from beneath the hold feet of
my beloved daughter bring to me rest and healing, and for the redemption of my
life and for the remission of sins and for the new eternal life.” Many people who were following them did the
same, but the King ordered his guards to clear a path and to remove anyone who
blocked their return to the city.
All who
saw the face of Irene where filled with joy, and declared that it was like
looking at the face of an angel. When Irene came to the door of her father’s
palace, a vicious demon met her and declared, “What is there between me and
thee, thou hand maiden of Jesus? Get out of this city, for no Christian can dwell
in it, the demon shouted.” The blessed Irene then said to the demon, ‘Who art
thou, and what is thy name?” The demon responded that Nargium is his name and
that he guards the city, and many of the people within are his! I am the first
charioteer of the gods, and I rejoice in quarrels and exult in slaughter. I
excite disputes and I rejoice in the shedding of blood. I supply the wizards
and enchain many by means of them. I am the father and the originator of all
evils, and I am the rock on which all the souls of the wicked shall be dashed.
Now I have made known to thee my power and my courage.
Irene
answered the demon saying, “in the name of Jesus Christ, it is not lawful for
thee to be in this city, or to ruin or hurt anyone of its inhabitants. Be gone
demon, let I destroy you in the name of Jesus! When the demon heard the
glorious name of Jesus Christ he fled in fear and trembling, and went out of
the city astonished. As he was going out, he approached the king and whispered
into his ear, saying, “if you are truly mine Licinius, be strong and of good
courage, for thy daughter is mixed up with the fervor of the Christians.” After
the demon had said this he went out of the city shaking and howling. At dawn of
the next day the king called his queen and asked her counsel regarding what
should be done with their daughter. The queen responded that he should not
think that their daughter was in error and declared “peace be to our daughter
and glory to Christ, who hath called her to immortal life!” At this declaration
the king became enraged and ordered that the queen be put out of the palace.
When Irene learned of this action she quickly ran to her mother’s aid and to
confront her father.
When
Licinius encountered his daughter he bent his head down and gazed at the ground
in anger. When she saw her fathers’ reaction, she asked him why he was so sad
and angry with her. Licinius declared that she had confessed the Christ and
believed in Jesus, rejecting the gods. Irene responded saying that there was
nothing wrong with her and her faith in Christ, and that she prays that he too
will confess and believe in Jesus Christ.
The king
responded by demanding that Irene sacrifice to the gods and cease calling
herself Irene, for your name he said is Penelope! She responded by saying that
her name is Irene, for by that name my betrothed did call me when I was in that
castle, which you imprisoned me. King Licinius responded with anger, declaring
that he renounces this child, and wished she had never had been born! He then
commanded his soldiers to take her away to the circus, and to bind her with
ropes and throw her in front of chariots so she would be trampled to death.
Irene was
immediately taken by the king’s soldiers to the circus. The crowds were weeping
at the site of her in ropes as the soldiers laid her in the middle of circus
floor. The King soon left his palace and went to the circus to witness the
death of his daughter. As the King entered the circus his most prized war horse
cut the ropes of its halter and destroyed its stall, running straight for the
Licinius. The horse bit the King, seizing his right arm, ripping it from his
shoulder. The king fell to the ground dead! The horse returned to its stall,
which was given the speech of man for the glory of God. It spoke and said:
“Blessed
art though Irene, handmaid of God and blessed are thou among women. Thou hast
been delivered into the hands of the wicked upon the earth and in heaven thine
espousal and their adornment are prepared. Thou has wept upon earth and in
paradise thou shalt be embraced by the sweetness of heaven. Here thou art
afflicted but thou shalt be made splendid beyond the splendor of light. Thou
art hated by man upon earth, but thou shall stand and be glorified beside Jesus
they betrothed. Blessed be thou and blessed be thy soul.”
All the
horses were brought to the circus but the one that had spoken these words was
kept separate from the other horses owing to his great strength. The blessed
Irene who had been bound with ropes by order of the King lay in the middle of
the area, and all the horses came and knelt down in obeisance before her.
Suddenly the ropes that had bound Irene fell from her, and the people who
witnessed this immediately glorified God. At that very moment the servants of
the King ran to Irene and declared, “A horse had bitten thy father and he is
dead.”
“Irene
responded by declaring that they should not fear for he really is not dead, but
only sleeping, and that all this has happened for the glory of God! When the
crow at the circus heard that the King was dead, they be came to Irene and fell
down before her and pleaded saying, “Lady, take pity on thy father who is dead;
and it is grievous to they for his hand, too, has been taken away and thrown
aside.”
Irene
then went to her father’s corpse and stood over it. The people at this time
were dumbstruck and fearful, for they were amazed at the speech of the horse,
the miraculous loosening of Irene’s bindings, and shocked by the sudden death
of their King. The blessed Irene then declared, “Bring the hand that cut off
close to place from which it as cut. And make it touch the place.” Once this
was done, Irene turned to the East and lifted up her eyes and her hands to
heaven. She cried with heavy sobs saying,
“God the
Father in Heaven, who hast established the foundations of the earth; Thou rock
that never movest, and fortress that never dost capitulate, Sun of
righteousness and path of life, and Way of Salvation, who sittest on the right
hand of Him who sent thee, O Lord, my God, and my betrothed Jesus the Christ,
Son of the Living God, Thou who called sinner to repentance, that they may turn
to the knowledge of the truth and not perish, Merciful and Pitiful One, hearken
to my voice and look on the humble estate of Thy handmaiden. May they strong power
come from heaven on this dead man and raise him up, that this crowd may see
threes things and believe and glorify Thy holy name; and know that thou are the
Lord of the heaven and of the earth and the Redeemer of all men who believe in
thee.”
When she had
finished her prayer, the soul of the dead man re-entered him and he arose, and
sat-up. His daughter turned and saw him, and she went to him and took him with
her hands and set him up saying, “Rise my father, by the power of Jesus!” At
this he rose and began walking as if he had never been injured. The people were
amazed and on that very day 3,000 were baptized. Then King Licinius took his
daughter by the hand, blessing God and saying, “Great is the triumph of thy
victory, my daughter, and great is thy promise in heaven. Thou art called the
possession of Jesus, and the inheritance of the Christ. Behold! Licinius
declared, I also am now a Christian and a servant of Jesus, and I renounce this
kingdom of the world that passes away, and I look for the kingdom of heaven
that never passes away. He then announced his abdication, stating that he will
take his wife and daughter to the castle that he had built for them and will
also see Jesus as they have.”
Soon
after this Zedkia, a neighboring king had learned of Lincius conversion and of
the miracles done by his daughter. Zedekia assembled his army and marched to
Magdu quickly occupying it. He summoned the leaders of the city and asked them
where they king had gone? They answered that Lincius was in the castle he had
build for his daughter! Zedkia then demanded to know where Irene lived, and was
told that she was in the city, staying with her teacher, Apellianus. Zedkia’s
soldier seized Irene and brought her to the King. When she meet him, she
condemned his paganism. Zedkia became enraged and commanded his soldiers to dig
a pit thirty cubits wide and thirty cubits deep, and to throw wild beasts and
venomous snakes and scorpions into it. The king commanded that Irene be thrown
into the pit. As Irene was brought to the pit she lifted her hands and raised
her eyes upwards, weeping and saying, “O Lord the Christ, behold, for they sake
I bear these things and I go down into this pit leaning on the power of thy
divinity. Show thy favor to me, O Lord, and let the iniquitous people and their
father, Satin, be ashamed.” Irene then made the sign of Jesus between her eyes,
and on her breast, and threw herself head first into the pit. When she reached
the bottom of the pit all the reptiles ran away from her and stuck to the sides
of pit and died.
Irene
remained in the pit for fourteen days and had nothing to eat or drink, but was
nourished by the Holy Spirit. When King Zedkia was informed of the dead
reptiles and that Irene was still alive, he had her brought before him and
demanded that she make sacrifices to the gods. Irene replied, “O many headed
Satan! O son of deceit, tell me, has the weak power of thy gods done any
enchantment like these!”18 Zedkia became enraged and ordered his carpenters to
bring two saws. He commanded that they squeeze Irene in their press and to saw
her half. The carpenters followed the commands of their King, and placed a saw
above her head and began to saw her, but the saws became blunted and did not
hurt her body! The King being further enraged, commanded that they should tie
her down and saw her in two, but the saw broke killing the two carpenters.
Irene continued to sing praises to Jesus Christ throughout this ordeal! The
King then ordered a large stone of 550 pounds to be placed on Irene and ordered
that another large saw be brought. Then the King’s servants cut off Irene’s
feet, but she felt no pain. The King then blasphemed God, when suddenly the air
was aflame, and great thundering and fierce lightening occurred. Irene remained
with the stone on her and her feet cut off. The King then shouted, “now we will
see if the Christ will come to deliver her.”
All the
people had fled, but a harlot came to the side of Irene. Here name was Curica.
She said to her, “I will not leave thee, handmaid of the Christ! With thee I
will die, and with thee will live in life eternal.” When the King saw the
harlot beside Irene, he ordered his men to kill her. She asked Irene to pray
for her that they would not be separated, and Irene sealed her in the name of
the Fathers, and the Son, and the Holy Sprit. When the Kings men cut the head
off of Curica, two angels came down from heaven by the command of God, and they
freed Irene from the stone and took her feet which had been cut off and brought
them to he places where they have been severed and healed her, and then went up
to heaven. The handmaiden Irene continued singing praises to God without
ceasing. Suddenly a strong current of air followed the king and his men who
were bitterly were assaulted by a killing hail. It slew three thousand of the
Kings men, but it did not hurt the king, because he was kept for the wrath to
come.
The king
then summoned Irene and said you have killed three thousand people with your
enchantments. He also said that when the people saw that your feet were healed,
they believed in your God and you have stolen 8,000 souls from the gods! Irene
then declared that the king did not escape death because of his righteousness,
but that her crown of martyrdom might be witnessed by the people. The king was
again enraged and ordered his Eparch to take Irene to a mill and bind her to
against the spokes of the wheel. He ordered that iron hooks be attached to the
ends of the spokes and the water be opened to the mill wheel. When the force of
the water hits the wheel the hooks will rip Irene apart he shouted! Irene was
tied to the mill wheel, and the water was released, but the mill did not move
and she was unhurt. The King and his men were completely bewildered. Irene was
then taken off the mill wheel and imprisoned. But God created doubt in the
minds of the people of the King, who suddenly rose up against him. The King was
stoned by the people and he left the city for his own, but died within seven
days died. His son Severon ascended to his father’s throne and quickly
reoccupied Magedon with a large army.
While
Irene was in prison the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to hear with a host of
angels. He said to her, “Irene, fear not, I am with you, and my Father with the
Holy Spirit, are helping you with your struggles. All the armies of heaven are
helping with your conflict. And even the bones of the righteous fathers delight
in thy victory.” Then the Lord set His seal upon her, and ascended up to heaven
with His holy angels. Irene remained in prison for fourteen days, when the king
called her and demanded that she make sacrifices to the gods. When she refused
King Severon was enraged and ordered three hundred nails be brought to him and
that they be fastened under St. Irene’s feet, and that heavy sacks of sand be
tied to her. She was then muzzled, and a soldier of the King’s made her run
five miles outside of the city and back again. She was then mocked by the
populace as she was brought back into the city. But Irene saw an angel standing
in front of her as she entered the city, and suddenly the earth opened up and
swallowed all those who were mocking her and many pagans were destroyed. The
nails were taken from her feet and the sacks of sand were removed from her
sides, and the muzzle fell from her mouth. When the king saw this he was
astonished, but his heart was only hardened. Then the angel of God turned to
the king’s assembly and slew many of them. The King still would not believe,
and the Lord also slew him.
Irene
went into the city and taught many people the words of Christ, and baptized
them in the name of the Holy Trinity. She also healed many who were sick and
cast out demons. She remained in the city of Megedon for three years
proclaiming the word of Jesus Christ. After Zedikia and Severon, Numerianus
ruled after them in Magedon, the son of Septinus. He asked about the blessed
Irene, and when told that she was in the city, he ordered that she be brought
to the city of Callinicus and confined until he arrived.
When
Numerianus arrived in Callinicus he declared that: “This maiden is very like
her father; she is the daughter of Licinius who abandoned his kingdom, and
renounced it, and now this city is without a king. Because of her actions
Zedekia, my brother was stoned and died, and because of her the angel of the
Lord killed Severon his son. I fear a fate worse than that befell my kinsmen. I
see this woman as a destroyer of the kingdom. I do not know what to do with
her. He then turned to his leading men and asked them to advise him on a course
of action.” He then ordered that Irene be brought before him. Numerianus said
to Irene, “ Will you sacrifice to the gods or will you remain obstinate? Will
you persist in the folly of Christians?”
Irene
answered, “Because though has repeated that I am the over turner of royalty, I say
to thee, if thou dost no believe in God, in a very little while the judgment of
God shall overtake thee also; and thou shall die a frightful and uncommon
death. And then thou shall know there is a God who rules in the heaven and in
the earth.” When the King heard this, he was incensed, and ordered that his men
bring him sheets of copper. They came to the King and he ordered that they make
three large copper cows. They made them and brought them to the King. He then
ordered that the cows should be heated for three days until the copper was
almost melted. When they cows were heated he commanded that Irene be brought
before him. He told Irene that if she would not sacrifice to the gods she would
suffer a terrible death. She would be thrown in the first copper cow, but if
she would “conquer that one by her witchcraft, she would be thrown into the
second; and if again she conquers the second one, she would be cast into the
third, and surely die. The King said, we will see if Jesus will come, he whom
you believe in, and will save you from my hands.”
St. Irene
responded by saying, “Be not troubled, O son of Satan, for however much thy
father Satan has excited you against me, I am not afraid, nor of thy threats.
The King then cursed St. Irene and commanded that his men prepare the copper
cows. He also ordered his heralds to go out into the city and proclaim that all
men should come and see the punishment and procession of the despiser of the
gods. When all in the city were assembled, the King came and sat on his
judgment-seat and asked Irene to again sacrifice to the gods or go into the
copper cow! St. Irene declared, “O senseless fool and ignorant sinner, son of
Satan the coiling serpent! I have said to thee once and for all that I am a
Christian, and I will not sacrifice to the infidel demons or to the foul
fiends. I will not forsake Jesus the Christ, my Load, and I shall not be
forsaken by Him.
King
Numerianus then ordered that Irene be thrown into the copper cow. As the
servants led her toward the first copper cow, Irene made the sign of Jesus on
her breast and between her eyes and ran boldly into the copper cow. Immediately
the fire was quenched and water even flowed from the cow itself and the
handmaid of Christ was set free. The King then declared, did he not say that
she would conquer it by her witchcraft?
All the
people began to weep as they saw the beauty of Irene’s youth and what torments
she was to suffer! She then prayed to God, “O Lord God, who dwellest in the
highest heavens, hearken to my voice and let thy mercy come hither.” After she
had prayed she saw an angel God standing beside her. He said to her, “Peace be
to you Irene, and fear not for the Lord is with thee and I have been sent for
they comfort.”
Then the
King ordered that Irene be thrown into the second. Irene again sealed herself with
the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and went into the cow rejoice and
exulting in the power of Jesus to help. Once again the fire was quenched and
fame was cooled and cow melted like wax, and Irene was unhurt. When the King
saw this he said, her witchcraft has conquered the fire. He ordered Irene to be
thrown into the third cow! When Irene freely went into the third copper cow, it
walked as if it were animated in the flesh, and that it might proclaim to the
unbelievers about he grace of God. All the people were amazed at this wonder.
Even the King was astonished. Then the people all cried aloud, “there is none
like unto thee, O Lord God, and there are none like unto thy servants. Be
merciful to use as in the abundance of they grace. Thou are He who hast done
the miracle by the hands of Irene, and though has shewn Thy might and thy valor
amongst the nations.” A hundred thousand people believed in God that day, and
the few people who were left who were unbaptized believed nevertheless in God.
When the
King saw the people praise God and rejoice with St. Irene, he again became
enraged and blasphemed against God. Then suddenly, the Angel of the Lord struck
him with a pain in his heart, and with an internal wound. The King was taken to
his chambers and a fire was lit with in him, and he refused all food, and his
liver overflowed and swelled up, and his lung was nourishment for him, and
worms came out of his mouth, and his kinsmen were afraid to come near him. He
then made a great yell and burst apart and died. Before his death the King had
ordered Bura the Eparch to try Irene.
While the
King was dying, Irene had traveled to the town of Callinicus. She was there for
thirty days, preaching the word of Christ and healing the sick. At the end of
thirty days the Eparch went to Tela of Mauzalet, also known as Membria. The
Eparch ordered soldiers to arrest Irene bring her to him. The solder’s were
told by the people of the many wonderful things Irene had done. When they found
her, they greeted her by declaring, “hail to thee, handmaiden of Christ! The
Eparch send for thee!” Irene went with the soldiers and entered the city of
Tela and was brought before the Eparch. He greeted her with “Peace be to thee,
Irene.” She replied that you greet me with peace, but there shall be no peace
upon thee because God has said that there will be no peace to the wicked.
The
Eparch Bura called Irene an impudent and godless woman, and ordered her to
sacrifice to the gods. Bura said that he will bring tortures to Irene that have
not yet been seen the world before nor have they ever entered into the heard of
the judges. The Eparch ordered that an iron chair be brought and Irene was
forced to sit in it and bound with chains so she could not move. Wood was then
piled around her and fat, wax, naphtha, sulpher, pitch, and resin were put on
the wood. Then torches were placed under the kindling. The Eparch declared,
“let us see if Jesus will deliver her form my hands.”28 Immediately, by the
commandment of God, an angel descended from heaven and seized Irene by her
hand, and set her out of the chair. The chair and iron chains were melted like
the wax. When the Eparch saw that she was standing outside the fame he was
astonish, and fear over took him. He ran and fell on his face before her feet,
weeping and sought to persuade her saying, “I implore thee, O lady, handmaiden
of the Christ, have mercy on me. Lo! I also believe in thy God, and henceforth
I am a Christian. I renounce all the gods of paganism, and let me not die a
fearful death.” Irene said, didn’t I tell you that you would speedily turn
towards Jesus. Bura then pleaded with Irene that he may be accepted and not
rejected. Irene said, fear not, let no anxiety come to thee. When the crowds
saw that the Eparch now believed in Jesus the Christ, many also believed and
confessed God. Irene remained in to Tela of Mauzalet for fifty days, preaching
the word of God and converting many.
However,
Shabar, the Persian King had come to the city of Nisibis, and he had heard
about the blessed Irene and that she was in Tela. At the end of fifty days he
sent seven horsemen after her, and they brought her to Nisibis. She entered the
city; and Shabar ordered that Irene be brought before him. When he saw her he
did not want to interrogate her, for he said, “This is the destroyer of
royalty,” As Irene stood in front of Shabar, he struck her with his sword and
killed her. Her Christian brothers then came and took her body and buried it.
The death
of the Holy Great Martyr Irene has been reported differently in several
sources. Some accounts report that after four days in the grave and angel came
from heaven and raised her and she went into the city Nisibis were the entire
citizens saw that she have been raised from the day. After three days by the
command of God a cloud took her to the city of Ephesus, where she healed the
sick and performed miracle in the Name of Jesus. In Ephesus she again met her
teacher Apellianus and one day later she instructed him to find six good
Christian men of the patrician class and she instructed them to put her in a
marble coffin that was to be secured with iron clasps and that for four days on
one should open or disturb her burial place. They followed Irene’s instructions
and after four days they opened her coffin and all they found were the clothes
of the virgin folded in her coffin.
Various
other accounts state that when the Lord revealed to St. Irene the day of her
death, she went into a mountain cave in Ephesus and asked that its entrance be
blocked by stones. There she died peacefully and her relics were recovered by
her followers. Another account states she was burned at the stake in
Thessaloniki. In any case, there is no doubt that her holy relics were
transferred to Constantinople, where several shrines were built in her honor,
including the magnificent Hagia Irene.
