Thousands of idolaters embraced Christianity as a result of this wondrous event. She was transferred from one to another, but miraculously remained uninjured. She was placed into three bronze ovens which were heated by fire. Irene began to teach about Christ, she was arrested and tortured by the pagan authorities. King Numerian, the son of Sebastian, was the ruler. Irene traveled to the city of Callinicum (on the Euphrates River in Syria).
Through her teaching, she converted 5,000 people to Christ. She returned to the tower built by her father, accompanied by the priest Timothy. Irene walked into the city and performed many miracles. Because of his insolence, he was struck and killed by a bolt of lightning.Īfter this, St. In spite of this, Savorus refused to recognize the power of God. She prayed again and they received their sight once more. Irene prayed and the entire army was blinded. Irene traveled to her hometown of Magedon in Persia to meet Savorus and his army to ask him to end the persecutions. Soon, Sedecius was overthrown by his son, Savorus, who persecuted Christians with an even greater zeal than his father. Under the influence of her preaching and miracles even more people were converted to Christ and turned away from the worship of idols. Sedecius ascribed this miracle to sorcery, and subjected St.
Irene spent ten days in the pit and remained unharmed, with an angel of the Lord protecting her and bringing her food. Irene staunchly confessed her faith before the prefect, not fearing his wrath, and prepared to suffer for Christ.īy order of Sedecius, she was thrown into a pit filled with vipers and serpents. Sedecius summoned Irene, urged her to stop preaching about Christ, and attempted to force her to sacrifice to the idols. Apellian replied that Irene, like other Christians, lived in strict temperance, devoting herself to constant prayer and reading holy books. When Sedecius, the new prefect of the city, heard of this miracle, he summoned Apellian and questioned him about Irene’s life. Irene lived in the house of her teacher, Apellian, and began to preach Christ among the pagans, converting them to the path of salvation. Resigning his administrative duties, Licinius devoted himself to the service of the Lord Jesus Christ. Seeing such a miracle, Licinius, his wife, and over 3,000 others professed Christ and turned from the pagan gods. Irene demanded to be untied, and through her prayers, Licinius was unharmed with his hand still intact. The horse then knocked Licinius down and began to trample him. Instead of harming her, one of the horses charged Licinius, seized his right hand, and tore it from his arm. She was tied up and thrown beneath the hooves of wild horses so that they might trample her to death, but the horses remained motionless. He attempted to turn her from Christ by having her tortured. When King Licinius learned that his daughter refused to worship the pagan gods, he was furious. Irene had dedicated herself to Christ, she refused to marry any of the suitors her father had chosen for her. Shortly afterwards, she destroyed all her father’s idols. She even urged her own parents to become Christians. After this, Penelope refused to marry, was baptized by the priest Timothy, and was renamed Irene (“peace”). Apellian further said that the Lord wished to betroth her to Himself and that Penelope would undergo much suffering for her heavenly Bridegroom.
The raven and the snake foretold her future suffering and sorrow. Penelope was puzzled by these events and wondered what they meant.Īpellian explained that the dove signified her education, the olive branch stood for the grace of God received in Baptism, and the eagle with the wreath of flowers represented success in her future life. Finally, a raven flew in carrying a snake, which it dropped on the table. An eagle then swooped in with a wreath of flowers in its beak, and also placed it upon the table. One day, a dove flew through the window of Penelope’s tower carrying an olive branch in its beak, depositing it upon a table. When Penelope reached adolescence, her parents began to think about her marriage. Apellian was a Christian, and during her lessons, he taught the girl about Christ the Savior, the Christian Faith, and Christian virtues. An old tutor by the name of Apellian was assigned to give her the best possible education. He also placed thirteen young maidens in the tower with her. Penelope was very beautiful, and her father kept her isolated in a high tower from the time she was six so that she would not be exposed to Christianity. She was the daughter of the pagan king Licinius, and her parents named her Penelope. The holy Great Martyr Irene was born in the city of Magedon in Persia during the fourth century.