Irene

Saint Irene was the daughter of Saint Spyridon, Bishop of Tremithus in Cyprus. Spyridon was born in the late third century in the village of Assia, in the district of Famagusta, and married a pious woman, with whom he had children, among them Irene. His wife died early, and he raised the children alone.

Irene died while her father was at the Council of Nicaea in 325. On his return a woman told him that she had given his daughter a treasure to keep, but Irene had died without returning it and without saying where she had hidden it. Saint Spyridon went to his daughter's tomb, followed by many, and spoke to her as if she were alive. She returned to life for a moment, told her father the place of the treasure and fell asleep again. So the saint was able to give the woman her treasure back.

The synaxaria do not mention Irene, but she is counted among the saints of the Church of Cyprus. Her image is in a fresco in the narthex of the church of the Panagia Asinou, painted in 1332-1333. She is remembered on 12 December, the day of Saint Spyridon.