Irenaeus

Holy Martyr Irenaeus was a priest of Christ and suffered together with Hor and Oropsis in the time of persecutions. He was one of the priests who shone in the Church: he strengthened the faithful by teaching and living example, and drew unbelievers into spiritual “nets” and brought them into the Church of Christ.

For this work he was seized and subjected to terrible tortures. Hor and Oropsis, watching the torments, rebuked the governor boldly and received the same sentence: they were tortured with the priest and thrown into the fire, all three. A sudden downpour quenched the fire and the martyrs came out of the furnace unharmed. Frightened, the governor ordered that their heads be cut off with the sword.

Saint Irenaeus is commemorated on 22 August (new style).