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Description
Saint Irene the Great-Martyr icon
©Cecilia Lawrence
September 19th, 2023
6x9 inches
About 10.5 Hours
Ink, watercolor, gold leaf

MOUNTED ICONS CAN BE PURCHASED HERE AT ETSY

“O pure Irene, you adorned yourself with the splendors of virginity,
so you became all-beautiful in your struggle:
you were dyed with the blood you shed for Christ
and so became all-pleasing to God.
Therefore you received the prize of glory from your Creator.”
~ Kontakion (Tone 3) for the Feast of St. Irene the Great-Martyr

“Your lamb Irene, O Jesus,
calls out to You in a loud voice:
‘I love You, O my bridegroom,
and in seeking You, I endure suffering.
In Baptism I was crucified so that I might reign in You,
and died so that I might live with You.
Accept me as a pure sacrifice,
for I have offered myself in love.’
By her prayers save our souls, since You are merciful.”
~ Troparion (Tone 4) for the Feast of St. Irene the Great-Martyr

I just finished this commission for a client featuring their daughter’s patron saint: St. Irene the Great-Martyr. For her clothing, I referenced the fashions of the roughly contemporaneous Syrian funerary busts from Palmyra . I have depicted her as a Persian woman in a purple tunic symbolizing her royalty, decorated with little olive motifs, as a symbolic reference to the meaning of her name (“Irene” is Greek for “peace”) and a golden veil also decorated with little olive branch motifs. She also holds a sprig of lilies (symbolizing virginity) and a palm branch (signifying victorious martyrdom). The dove hovering over her breast with an olive branch in its beak alludes to the Holy Spirit, as well as being another symbol of her name “Peace.” In the legend of her life as well, a dove flew through the window of her room carrying an olive branch in its beak, and this was one of the signs that led her to become a Christian.

:+: A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF THE SAINT :+:

Saint Irene the Great-Martyr (c. early 300s A.D.) was, according to the traditional story of her life, a royal princess born to a pagan king named Licinius in the city of Magedon in Persia. She was named Penelope at birth, and the young girl was so beautiful, that at the age of six, her father had a tower built in which he placed the girl so that she would be cut off from the world and its influences until the time came for her to be married. The tower was surrounded by statues of the pagan gods to guard her, and staffed with thirteen maidservants and filled with every comfort. A tutor named Apellianus was hired to give her a fine education, but even that from only behind a curtain. Apellianus, unknown to the king, was a Christian, and during the girl’s lessons he taught her about Jesus Christ and the Faith. As the time approached for Penelope to be betrothed, her parents began looking for suitors for their young daughter. One night, Penelope had a dream in which she saw a window open up in the tower wall. Through it flew first a dove with an olive branch in its mouth. This it placed on the table and then flew away. Next, an eagle flew inside and deposited a wreath of flowers on the table. Lastly, a raven with a live snake in its beak soared in and dropped the wriggling reptile on the table, then it too departed.

Disturbed by this vision, Penelope wondered what it could possibly mean and asked her tutor. Apellianus explained that the vision was prophetic in nature: the dove signified her education in the Faith, while the olive branch was a symbol of the grace God would give her in Baptism. The eagle and the flowers symbolized her future victorious triumph, and the raven and snake symbolized her future sufferings. Apellianus continued to explain that he believed that God Himself wished to be Penelope’s Bridegroom, but that she would have to undergo much suffering for His sake. At this, Penelope decided that she would be given in marriage to no one but God Himself, and she immediately asked for baptism. A priest named Timothy baptized her and gave her the name “Irene.” She then destroyed the pagan idols placed around the tower.

Her father was furious when he met with Irene’s stubborn refusals of any of the marriage offers she had received. When he learned that she had smashed the idols, refused to worships the pagan gods and had been baptized and changed her name, he became so enraged that he had her tied up and thrown under the hooves of wild horses so that they would trample her to death. Instead, the horses refused to move, and when goaded, one horse flew at Licinius himself and, after kicking him down, began to trample him into the ground. The terrified onlookers untied Irene, and she at once went to her father’s side, prayed over him, and he was at once healed. When her parents and many other onlookers witnessed the miracle, they too became Christians.

Irene then lived with her old tutor Apellianus and began to preach about Jesus Christ. When Sedecius, the new governor of the city, heard about this, he urged the girl to cease from preaching to pagans and tried to make her sacrifice to idols. She boldly refused, and was thrown into a pit of poisonous snakes, where she remained for ten days, unharmed. Sedecius believed she was a sorceress, and subjected her to other tortures. But no matter what she suffered she never broke, and her steadfast courage converted many to the Faith. When Savorus became the new governor and was even more ferocious in his persecution of Christians, Irene set out to dissuade him from his evil plans. She met him and his whole army and told him boldly to put an end to the persecutions. He refused, and so she prayed that the whole army would be blinded. She prayed again and they regained their sight. When Savorus refused to believe even this sign from God, he was struck dead by a thunderbolt. Many other miraculous signs accompanied her preaching, until she returned to live in her father’s tower. She then later set out to the city of Callinicum, where the local ruler imprisoned and tortured her by throwing her into a bronze oven. When she emerged unhurt, many began to believe her preachings. Irene escaped and made her way to the city of Constantina, where she was arrested by the Persian King Sapor II. On his orders, she was beheaded and buried, but an angel raised her from the dead, and when the local people saw her alive again many more believed in Christ. She traveled to Ephesus and performed numerous miracles and made many converts. When she left Ephesus, it was revealed to her that her life was soon coming to a close, so she went with some companions to the outskirts of the town and, after making the Sign of the Cross, she entered into a new tomb and asked her friends to seal it up. When it was opened four days later, her body was nowhere to be found.

“The Church everywhere flourishes through the glorious deeds of the holy martyrs. With our own eyes we can judge the truth of our song, that the death of his saints is precious in the sight of the Lord. It is precious in our sight and in the sight of the Lord as well, for in his name they died.

But the price of these deaths is the death of one man. See how many deaths he paid for by dying himself! For if he had not died, would the grain of wheat have been multiplied? You have heard what he said on his way to his passion, which was our redemption: Unless the grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

On the cross he made the great exchange. There the purse which held our price was opened, for when the soldier's spear opened his side, the price of the whole world flowed forth. Thus he purchased the faithful and the martyrs. But the faith of the martyrs has been tested; their blood is the proof. They paid back the price Christ paid for them, thus fulfilling the words of Saint John: Just as Christ laid down his life for us, we too must lay down our lives for our brothers.

Elsewhere it is said: You are seated at a great table. Observe carefully all that is set before you, for you also must prepare such a banquet. The table is large, for the banquet is none other than the Lord of the table himself. No one has his guests feed upon himself, and yet this is precisely what Christ our Lord does; though host, he himself is both food and drink. The martyrs recognized the food and drink they were given, in order to make repayment in kind.

But how can they make repayment, unless he first spends his riches on them and gives them the means to repay? And what does the psalm we have sung recommend when it says: The death of the saints is precious in the sight of the Lord?

In this psalm man ponders the great things he has received from God, the great gifts of grace from the almighty: God created man, sought him when he was lost, pardoned him when he was found, supported him when he struggled in weakness, did not abandon him when he was in danger, crowned him in victory, and gave himself as the prize. Reflecting on all this man cries out, saying: What shall I give the Lord for all he has given me? I shall take up the cup of salvation.

What is this cup? It is the cup of suffering, bitter yet healthful: the cup which, if the physician did not first drink it, the sick man would fear to touch. Yes, it is the cup of suffering, and of it Christ is speaking when he says: Father, if it is possible let this cup pass from me.

Of this cup the martyrs said: I shall take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. But are you not afraid you will weaken? No, they reply. And why? Because I shall call upon the name of the Lord. Do you think martyrs could have been victorious, unless he was victorious in the martyrs who said: Rejoice, for I have overcome the world? The Lord of the heavens directed their minds and tongues; through them he overcame the devil on earth and crowned them as martyrs in heaven. Blessed are those who have drunk of this cup! Their torments are at an end, and they have taken their place of honor. And so, my dear ones, consider: although you cannot see with your eyes, do so with your mind and soul, and see that the death of the saints is precious in the sight of the Lord.”
~ From a sermon by Saint Augustine, bishop

The Feast of Saint Irene the Great Martyr is celebrated on May 5th.

Saint Irene the Great Martyr is the patroness of happy marriages and of policemen.

O God, who gladden us today
with the annual commemoration of blessed Irene the Great Martyr,
graciously grant that we may be helped by her merits,
just as our lives are lit up by the splendor of her example of chastity and fortitude.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Description
Saint Irene the Great-Martyr icon
©Cecilia Lawrence
September 19th, 2023
6x9 inches
About 10.5 Hours
Ink, watercolor, gold leaf

MOUNTED ICONS CAN BE PURCHASED HERE AT ETSY

“O pure Irene, you adorned yourself with the splendors of virginity,
so you became all-beautiful in your struggle:
you were dyed with the blood you shed for Christ
and so became all-pleasing to God.
Therefore you received the prize of glory from your Creator.”
~ Kontakion (Tone 3) for the Feast of St. Irene the Great-Martyr

“Your lamb Irene, O Jesus,
calls out to You in a loud voice:
‘I love You, O my bridegroom,
and in seeking You, I endure suffering.
In Baptism I was crucified so that I might reign in You,
and died so that I might live with You.
Accept me as a pure sacrifice,
for I have offered myself in love.’
By her prayers save our souls, since You are merciful.”
~ Troparion (Tone 4) for the Feast of St. Irene the Great-Martyr

I just finished this commission for a client featuring their daughter’s patron saint: St. Irene the Great-Martyr. For her clothing, I referenced the fashions of the roughly contemporaneous Syrian funerary busts from Palmyra . I have depicted her as a Persian woman in a purple tunic symbolizing her royalty, decorated with little olive motifs, as a symbolic reference to the meaning of her name (“Irene” is Greek for “peace”) and a golden veil also decorated with little olive branch motifs. She also holds a sprig of lilies (symbolizing virginity) and a palm branch (signifying victorious martyrdom). The dove hovering over her breast with an olive branch in its beak alludes to the Holy Spirit, as well as being another symbol of her name “Peace.” In the legend of her life as well, a dove flew through the window of her room carrying an olive branch in its beak, and this was one of the signs that led her to become a Christian.

:+: A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF THE SAINT :+:

Saint Irene the Great-Martyr (c. early 300s A.D.) was, according to the traditional story of her life, a royal princess born to a pagan king named Licinius in the city of Magedon in Persia. She was named Penelope at birth, and the young girl was so beautiful, that at the age of six, her father had a tower built in which he placed the girl so that she would be cut off from the world and its influences until the time came for her to be married. The tower was surrounded by statues of the pagan gods to guard her, and staffed with thirteen maidservants and filled with every comfort. A tutor named Apellianus was hired to give her a fine education, but even that from only behind a curtain. Apellianus, unknown to the king, was a Christian, and during the girl’s lessons he taught her about Jesus Christ and the Faith. As the time approached for Penelope to be betrothed, her parents began looking for suitors for their young daughter. One night, Penelope had a dream in which she saw a window open up in the tower wall. Through it flew first a dove with an olive branch in its mouth. This it placed on the table and then flew away. Next, an eagle flew inside and deposited a wreath of flowers on the table. Lastly, a raven with a live snake in its beak soared in and dropped the wriggling reptile on the table, then it too departed.

Disturbed by this vision, Penelope wondered what it could possibly mean and asked her tutor. Apellianus explained that the vision was prophetic in nature: the dove signified her education in the Faith, while the olive branch was a symbol of the grace God would give her in Baptism. The eagle and the flowers symbolized her future victorious triumph, and the raven and snake symbolized her future sufferings. Apellianus continued to explain that he believed that God Himself wished to be Penelope’s Bridegroom, but that she would have to undergo much suffering for His sake. At this, Penelope decided that she would be given in marriage to no one but God Himself, and she immediately asked for baptism. A priest named Timothy baptized her and gave her the name “Irene.” She then destroyed the pagan idols placed around the tower.

Her father was furious when he met with Irene’s stubborn refusals of any of the marriage offers she had received. When he learned that she had smashed the idols, refused to worships the pagan gods and had been baptized and changed her name, he became so enraged that he had her tied up and thrown under the hooves of wild horses so that they would trample her to death. Instead, the horses refused to move, and when goaded, one horse flew at Licinius himself and, after kicking him down, began to trample him into the ground. The terrified onlookers untied Irene, and she at once went to her father’s side, prayed over him, and he was at once healed. When her parents and many other onlookers witnessed the miracle, they too became Christians.

Irene then lived with her old tutor Apellianus and began to preach about Jesus Christ. When Sedecius, the new governor of the city, heard about this, he urged the girl to cease from preaching to pagans and tried to make her sacrifice to idols. She boldly refused, and was thrown into a pit of poisonous snakes, where she remained for ten days, unharmed. Sedecius believed she was a sorceress, and subjected her to other tortures. But no matter what she suffered she never broke, and her steadfast courage converted many to the Faith. When Savorus became the new governor and was even more ferocious in his persecution of Christians, Irene set out to dissuade him from his evil plans. She met him and his whole army and told him boldly to put an end to the persecutions. He refused, and so she prayed that the whole army would be blinded. She prayed again and they regained their sight. When Savorus refused to believe even this sign from God, he was struck dead by a thunderbolt. Many other miraculous signs accompanied her preaching, until she returned to live in her father’s tower. She then later set out to the city of Callinicum, where the local ruler imprisoned and tortured her by throwing her into a bronze oven. When she emerged unhurt, many began to believe her preachings. Irene escaped and made her way to the city of Constantina, where she was arrested by the Persian King Sapor II. On his orders, she was beheaded and buried, but an angel raised her from the dead, and when the local people saw her alive again many more believed in Christ. She traveled to Ephesus and performed numerous miracles and made many converts. When she left Ephesus, it was revealed to her that her life was soon coming to a close, so she went with some companions to the outskirts of the town and, after making the Sign of the Cross, she entered into a new tomb and asked her friends to seal it up. When it was opened four days later, her body was nowhere to be found.

“The Church everywhere flourishes through the glorious deeds of the holy martyrs. With our own eyes we can judge the truth of our song, that the death of his saints is precious in the sight of the Lord. It is precious in our sight and in the sight of the Lord as well, for in his name they died.

But the price of these deaths is the death of one man. See how many deaths he paid for by dying himself! For if he had not died, would the grain of wheat have been multiplied? You have heard what he said on his way to his passion, which was our redemption: Unless the grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

On the cross he made the great exchange. There the purse which held our price was opened, for when the soldier's spear opened his side, the price of the whole world flowed forth. Thus he purchased the faithful and the martyrs. But the faith of the martyrs has been tested; their blood is the proof. They paid back the price Christ paid for them, thus fulfilling the words of Saint John: Just as Christ laid down his life for us, we too must lay down our lives for our brothers.

Elsewhere it is said: You are seated at a great table. Observe carefully all that is set before you, for you also must prepare such a banquet. The table is large, for the banquet is none other than the Lord of the table himself. No one has his guests feed upon himself, and yet this is precisely what Christ our Lord does; though host, he himself is both food and drink. The martyrs recognized the food and drink they were given, in order to make repayment in kind.

But how can they make repayment, unless he first spends his riches on them and gives them the means to repay? And what does the psalm we have sung recommend when it says: The death of the saints is precious in the sight of the Lord?

In this psalm man ponders the great things he has received from God, the great gifts of grace from the almighty: God created man, sought him when he was lost, pardoned him when he was found, supported him when he struggled in weakness, did not abandon him when he was in danger, crowned him in victory, and gave himself as the prize. Reflecting on all this man cries out, saying: What shall I give the Lord for all he has given me? I shall take up the cup of salvation.

What is this cup? It is the cup of suffering, bitter yet healthful: the cup which, if the physician did not first drink it, the sick man would fear to touch. Yes, it is the cup of suffering, and of it Christ is speaking when he says: Father, if it is possible let this cup pass from me.

Of this cup the martyrs said: I shall take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. But are you not afraid you will weaken? No, they reply. And why? Because I shall call upon the name of the Lord. Do you think martyrs could have been victorious, unless he was victorious in the martyrs who said: Rejoice, for I have overcome the world? The Lord of the heavens directed their minds and tongues; through them he overcame the devil on earth and crowned them as martyrs in heaven. Blessed are those who have drunk of this cup! Their torments are at an end, and they have taken their place of honor. And so, my dear ones, consider: although you cannot see with your eyes, do so with your mind and soul, and see that the death of the saints is precious in the sight of the Lord.”
~ From a sermon by Saint Augustine, bishop

The Feast of Saint Irene the Great Martyr is celebrated on May 5th.

Saint Irene the Great Martyr is the patroness of happy marriages and of policemen.

O God, who gladden us today
with the annual commemoration of blessed Irene the Great Martyr,
graciously grant that we may be helped by her merits,
just as our lives are lit up by the splendor of her example of chastity and fortitude.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.