Great martyr · unknown (commemorated as a great martyr)
Irene
Great Martyr Irene
New Calendar May 5 Old Calendar May 18
Why they are a saint
The Church commemorates Irene as a great martyr named Irene ('peace'). Several Irenes exist; this is the May 5 great martyr of the OCA calendar. This memory is kept in the whole Orthodox Church. The faithful remember a life offered publicly for the Gospel.
Life
Saint Irene, first named Penelope, was born in the city of Magedon in Persia, the daughter of a pagan ruler named Licinius. From the age of six her father kept her in a tower, where her tutor Apellian, a Christian, taught her about Christ.
After a vision of a dove, an eagle and a raven, she refused marriage, was baptized by the priest Timothy, who named her Irene ('peace'), and broke her father's idols. Her father tried to turn her from Christ by torture; she was thrown under the hooves of horses, but they did not move, and one of them turned on Licinius. Through her preaching and miracles thousands came to Christ.
At Ephesus, knowing her end was near, she entered a new tomb with the instruction that it be sealed for four days; when her teacher Apellian returned after two days, the tomb was empty. Other ancient sources say she was beheaded. Fragments of her relics are at Kykkos Monastery on Cyprus and in Venice.
Sources: OCA Lives of the Saints. Retold in our own words.
Traditional patronage
She is invoked by those wishing for a swift and happy marriage, and in Greece she is the patron saint of policemen.
Patronage / why chosen as patron
Orthodox Christians usually take Irene as a patron when they bear the name Irene; Irina at baptism, or were born or baptized near the feast on May 5. As a martyr, she is also asked for courage and faithfulness under trial.
Prayer
O holy Irene, pray to God for us.
A short general prayer to a saint, not a liturgical text. No public-domain troparion for this saint is included.
Do not confuse with Irene Chrysovalantou; other virgin-martyr Irenes.