St. Irenaeus

Saint Irenaeus

Bishop & Martyr

Irenaeus was born to a Greek Christian family in Asia Minor, around the year of Our Lord 130. He was taught by St. Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, and eventually sent to Gaul, where he was ordained by St. Pothinus, first bishop of Lyons. Pothinus soon sent Irenaeus to Rome as his representative, on account of his great piety and trustworthiness. Irenaeus returned to find Lyons embroiled in persecution and Pothinus martyred. He was quickly chosen to succeed Pothinus, and soon Irenaeus had converted much of the region with his eloquent preaching. During a brief time of peace, Irenaeus sent out several future martyrs as missionaries to evangelize other parts of Gaul. He also wrote effectively against heresies, particularly Gnosticism, and established himself as one of the first great Western Fathers. Sometime in the early third century, Irenaeus and a great many fellow Christians were martyred in Lyons. Though his relics were desecrated and scattered by Calvinist heretics in the sixteenth century, his head was recovered and now rests in Lyons Cathedral. He was declared a Doctor of the Church in the year of Our Lord 2022, and is honored on August 23rd in the East.

Traditional Roman Martyrology for June 28th

THE vigil of the holy apostles Peter and Paul.

At Rome, pope St. Leo II.

At Lyons, in France, St. Irenaeus, bishop and martyr, who, as is related by St. Jerome, was the disciple of blessed Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, and lived near the time of the Apostles. After having strenuously opposed the heretics by speech and writing, he was crowned with a glorious martyrdom, with almost all the people of his city, during the persecution of Severus.

At Alexandria, in the same persecution of Severus, the holy martyrs Plutarch, Serenus, Heraclides, catechumen, Heron, neophyte, another Serenus, Rhais, catechumen, Potamioena and Marcella, her mother. Among them, the virgin Potamioena is particularly distinguished. She first endured many most painful trials for the preservation of her virginity, and then cruel and unheard-of torments for the faith, after which she and her mother were consumed with fire.

The same day, during the persecution of Diocletian, St. Papius, martyr, who was scourged with knotted cords, cast into a caldron of seething oil and grease, and after other horrible torments, was decapitated, and thus won an eternal crown.

At Maestricht, St. Benignus, bishop and martyr.

At Cordova, St. Argymirus, monk and martyr, who was slain for the faith of Christ during the persecution of the Arabs.

At Rome, St. Paul, pope and confessor.

℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.

℟. Thanks be to God.