Saint Irenaeus
Patron Saint of apologists, catechists, Christian unity.
Feast Day: June 28th
Martyr, Doctor of the Church, Bishop, and Religious
Smyrna (modern İzmir, Turkey)
Public Domain: San Ireneo, vitral (cropped) via Wikimedia Commons.
Feast Day: June 28th
Martyr, Doctor of the Church, Bishop, and Religious
Smyrna (modern İzmir, Turkey)
About
Saint Irenaeus (c. 130–c. 202) was born in Smyrna, where he learned the faith from Saint Polycarp, a disciple of the Apostle John. He later served the growing Christian community in Lyon, Gaul, and succeeded Saint Pothinus as bishop after the persecution of 177.
Irenaeus is best known for Against Heresies, a major work defending the apostolic faith against Gnosticism. He taught that the true faith rests on Scripture, apostolic tradition, and the teaching of bishops who stand in succession from the apostles. His calm, pastoral style aimed to heal division and bring believers back to the Church’s unity.
Legacy
On January 21, 2022, Pope Francis declared Irenaeus a Doctor of the Church with the title Doctor unitatis—Doctor of Unity—because his life and teaching bridge East and West and call the Church to communion in truth and charity. His theology of recapitulation—that Christ sums up all things and restores humanity—continues to shape Catholic teaching. In Lyon, the Church of Saint-Irénée marks his ancient burial site and witness.
“The glory of God is man fully alive; moreover, man’s life is the vision of God.” — Against Heresies IV, 20, 7.
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