E01663: Greek version of the Martyrdom of *Irenaeus of Sirmium (martyr, S00695), of an uncertain date in the 4th-9th c., recounts the martyrdom of the young bishop of Sirmium (middle Danube) on 21 August.
online resource
posted on 2016-06-26, 00:00 authored by erizosMartyrdom of Irenaeus of Sirmium (Greek version: BHG 948)
Cf. the Latin version in E01662
Summary
(1) Under Diocletian, Maximian, and Constantius, a persecution of Christians occurs and Irenaeus, the young bishop of Sirmium, is arrested. (2) Irenaeus’ children, parents, wife, and relatives implore him to change his mind, but he remains steadfast. (3) He is presented to the provincial governor of Pannonia, Probus, who demands that he sacrifice according to the imperial decrees, but he refuses to. He is incarcerated for several days, and is presented again to Probus, who presides over the trial at midnight. Irenaeus is tortured, but always refuses to sacrifice. Probus advises him to spare himself from death, but Irenaeus prefers eternal life. The governor then asks him about his relatives, but the bishop replies that he has no relatives, according to Christ’s commandment that those who love their relatives more than him are not worthy of him (Matthew 10:37). (4) Probus admonishes him to sacrifice for the sake of his children, but Irenaeus says that God will take care of them. The governor condemns the martyr to be thrown into the river, but the martyr replies that he had expected to be put to death by the sword. (5) Probus orders Irenaeus’s execution by the sword, and the martyr gives thanks to God. He is taken to the bridge of Artemis over the river Savus, where he addresses his last prayer, offering his spirit on behalf of the people and the Catholic Church, and requesting that the people be confirmed in the faith. He is decapitated and thrown into the river. (6) His martyrdom took place on 21 August, under Probus.
Text: Acta Sanctorum Mart. III, d. 25, 23A.
Summary: Efthymios Rizos.
Cf. the Latin version in E01662
Summary
(1) Under Diocletian, Maximian, and Constantius, a persecution of Christians occurs and Irenaeus, the young bishop of Sirmium, is arrested. (2) Irenaeus’ children, parents, wife, and relatives implore him to change his mind, but he remains steadfast. (3) He is presented to the provincial governor of Pannonia, Probus, who demands that he sacrifice according to the imperial decrees, but he refuses to. He is incarcerated for several days, and is presented again to Probus, who presides over the trial at midnight. Irenaeus is tortured, but always refuses to sacrifice. Probus advises him to spare himself from death, but Irenaeus prefers eternal life. The governor then asks him about his relatives, but the bishop replies that he has no relatives, according to Christ’s commandment that those who love their relatives more than him are not worthy of him (Matthew 10:37). (4) Probus admonishes him to sacrifice for the sake of his children, but Irenaeus says that God will take care of them. The governor condemns the martyr to be thrown into the river, but the martyr replies that he had expected to be put to death by the sword. (5) Probus orders Irenaeus’s execution by the sword, and the martyr gives thanks to God. He is taken to the bridge of Artemis over the river Savus, where he addresses his last prayer, offering his spirit on behalf of the people and the Catholic Church, and requesting that the people be confirmed in the faith. He is decapitated and thrown into the river. (6) His martyrdom took place on 21 August, under Probus.
Text: Acta Sanctorum Mart. III, d. 25, 23A.
Summary: Efthymios Rizos.
History
Evidence ID
E01663Saint Name
Irenaeus, martyred bishop of Sirmium : S00695Saint Name in Source
ΕἰρηναῖοςRelated Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Literary - Hagiographical - Accounts of martyrdomLanguage
- Greek
Evidence not before
350Evidence not after
900Activity not before
304Place of Evidence - Region
Dalmatia, Pannonia and the Upper Danube Constantinople and regionPlace of Evidence - City, village, etc
SirmiumPlace of evidence - City name in other Language(s)
Sirmium Epidauros Ἐπίδαυρος Epidauros Epidaurus Cavtat Constantinople Κωνσταντινούπολις Konstantinoupolis Constantinopolis Constantinople IstanbulCult activities - Festivals
- Saint’s feast
