The Scriptures say, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them out of them all.” (Psalm 33/34:19) Born Penelope, but renamed Irene (Greek for “Peace”) at her baptism, this holy saint suffered the pains of martyrdom, not once, but several times during her life. In every case, she was miraculously rescued from death, and in fulfillment of the name given to her by divine inspiration, she ended her life in peace after persuading tens of thousands of her countrymen to believe in Jesus Christ. To human minds, the story of Saint Irene’s life will seem incredible (and indeed, she is considered fictional in the west), but with God all things are possible.

Irene was born in Magedon of Persia during the reign of Constantine the Great (306-337 AD) of the governor Licinius and his wife Licinia. One day, while sitting in the tower her father had built for her safekeeping, she saw three birds enter her room and place articles on her table. The first was a dove with an olive branch, the second an eagle with a garland of flowers, and the third a crow with a snake. Her tutor Apellian interpreted these events, saying that these were various symbols of her calling and preparation to proclaim the Christian faith to her people and of her trials and sufferings as well. Penelope was baptized by Timothy and received the name Irene.

Her father, discovering Irene’s new faith, decided to punish her with death by having her trampled under the hooves of his horses. Irene, however, remained unhurt, whereas her father fell and was mortally wounded. Through the prayers of Irene, though, her father was resurrected and came to believe in Christ, along with his wife. Her resigned his governorship and took to the tower in order to spend the remainder of his days in acts of repentance.

The new governor, Sedekias, resolved to have Irene sacrifice to his idols. After her repeated refusals, he cast her into a pit filled with poisonous snakes and lizards. Once again, she suffered no harm. Subsequent attempts to harm her by governors Sedekias, Sabor, and Noumerianos failed, and all the while Irene’s peaceful faith in the face of torture won many converts to Christianity among her people.

King Sabor of Persia decided to put a stop to her miracles once and for all. He had her beheaded and buried, but once again an angel of the Lord was sent to bring her back to life and to full health. The sight of the risen martyr inspired the king and many of his subjects to submit in faith to the Master of all. Thereafter, Saint Irene was miraculously transported to Ephesus, where she lived and worked miracles for a time, accompanied by her former tutor, Apellian. At the saint's command, Apellian sealed her into a newly hewn tomb with a large stone. After two days he returned to the grave, only to find the stone removed and Saint Irene’s body missing. For her unflinching witness to Christ, Saint Irene was believed to have been granted the divine favor of a death, burial, and resurrection like that of her Lord. By her powerful intercessions at the throne of God, Saint Irene remains a continual advocate for the peace of the Church and of the whole world. The Emperor Constantine founded one of the three early churches dedicated to her memory. Her name day is celebrated May 5.
 

An underground volcano whose edge is in the sea surface formed Santorini,    one of the southernmost islands of the Cyclades.    It was named Santorini after Saint Irene, the saint whose grace protects the island.    In ancient times the island was called Thera, Kallisti and Strogili.