Kontakion 1 Chosen by God from an idolatrous race for the enlightenment of tongues, God-wise and most glorious bride of Christ Irene, let us sing a song of thanksgiving and praise to your prayer books, holy and long-suffering Great Martyr Irene. But you, who have boldness towards the Lord, free us from all troubles and sorrows, and let us call to you: Rejoice, Irino, glorious bride of Christ.
Ikos 1 You have preserved the angelic honest and all-loving purity of the holy martyr Irino immaculately, with the Angels you have been vouchsafed to sing the thrice-holy hymn to God in heaven, hear us singing faithfully to you on earth: Rejoice, O maiden, ordained by God the Father to be conformed in suffering to the image of His Son ; Rejoice, called by the Son of God from darkness into the blessed light. Rejoice, for having received the Holy Spirit in adolescence, you rejected idolatry; Rejoice, you did not desire an earthly betrothed more than the heavenly nobility. Rejoice, you who made your garments white in the blood of Lambs on earth; Rejoice, in the Heavenly Chertosis you reign in Heaven with Christ; Rejoice, Irino, glorious bride of Christ.
Kontakion 2 Seeingly, the Holy Martyr Irene was placed on a majestic pillar by the Father, thinking to herself, understanding the Providence of God, about the creative creation of heaven and earth and soulless idols, in her mind ascending from darkness to light, from idolatry to the true God, Whose faithfulness they sing: Alleluia.
Ikos 2 You were the receptacle of God's Wisdom, an immaculate maiden, from youth out of love for the world and rejecting all that was in the world. You loved Christ the Bridegroom with all your soul, and you served Him equally to the apostles, preaching to them the True God among the infidels. For this reason, marveling at your reason, we say: Rejoice, all-wise Virgin of the Gospel, filled with the right faith and good deeds; Rejoice, more intelligent than the wise men of this world. Rejoice, blessed lips of the apostles for preaching the faith; Rejoice, decoration of Christian virgins. Rejoice, you who drive away demons with the weapon of the Cross of Christ; Rejoice, prayer book faithful to the Lord for our salvation. Rejoice, Irino, glorious bride of Christ.
Kontakion 3 The power of God was given to you, holy Great Martyr Irene, in holy Baptism, when Presbyter Timothy, having enlightened you, gave you the message of the holy apostles, thereby calling you to the great apostolic service. But you, filled with the Spirit of Wisdom, before the face of the king, your father Licinius, you fearlessly crushed all the golden idols and, as the servant of the Lord, you confessed the one Orthodox faith in God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, calling to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 3 Having, Saint Irino, the wisdom and power given to you from above, you were often urged by Licinius, your father, to worship an idol, calling you Penelopeia, but you told him: “Do not pervert my name, I am Irina, called an Angel in a vision, and so it was named in holy Baptism. I do not worship the demons whom you worship, but I worship the One God, my Creator, and I love my Bridegroom.” For such boldness, accept this praise from us: Rejoice, pillar of faith, confirmation of Christian life; Rejoice, child, enlightened by God in holy Baptism. Rejoice, O eagle of the Heavenly King, bestowed by God for the enlightenment of languages; Rejoice, in the land of Your Father's reign of idolatry, the exterminator. Rejoice, for your long-suffering feat was foreshadowed by a dove, a kokosh and a corvid, bringing you an olive tree, a crown and a serpent; Rejoice, as the teacher Apelian predicted to you: the olive is your good character, the crown is the crown of glory, and the serpent is your enemy, says suffering. Rejoice, Irino, glorious bride of Christ.
Kontakion 4 Storms of grave temptations were raised against you by the enemy of the soul of salvation, when your father ordered you to be executed, damaging the fierce horses for mockery and destruction. But when you prayed, the fiercest horse, giving up, tore off Licinius’s hand and trampled him. With a human voice I called you a glorious martyr. You were unharmed and raised your father in the name of Christ the Son of God. He and the multitude of people believed and praised God: Alleluia.
Ikos 4 Having heard from you, the evil king Zedekiah, wise words about the faith of Christ, he burst into anger at you; Moreover, when she always told him: “I will not sit with the vain multitude and I will not go in with lawbreakers; I am ready for all kinds of torture and will not spare my flesh for Christ my Lord.” And throw you into the depths of the ditch, where the reptiles are poisonous. And there you remained for ten days unharmed with the Angel who guarded you. Seeing all this miracles you have worked, you cry out: Rejoice, young passion-bearer, who suffered much for her courageous confession of faith; Rejoice, meek lamb, vain flattery of idols, accuser. Rejoice, for the evil enemy has been put to shame by you, seeing himself defeated; Rejoice, for all the heavenly powers rejoice in you, seeing you conquer the fierce tormentors. Rejoice, through your exploits you brought many blasphemous rulers to God; Rejoice, long-suffering daughter of the unmerciful King Licinius. Rejoice, Irino, glorious bride of Christ.
Kontakion 5 You, the Great Martyr Irino, were like a God-bright star, leading many tribes and languages to salvation. You enlightened three idolatrous countries with dioceses and minions. You endured severe suffering from the tormentors Zedekiah and Shebaha, you were sawed through with an iron saw three times and crushed on a mill wheel. O great martyr! The elements of heaven, thunder and lightning, could not bear your suffering and struck down the wicked. The people believed, glorifying God with trembling and singing to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 5 King Sheba saw that the power of God, working miracles in you, overcomes and puts to shame his insane commands, having armed one hundred thousand soldiers against Mageddon, the city where you prayed to the Lord about defeating those who were coming with blindness, and after they were blinded, you again begged the Almighty to grant them sight. We are filled with this joy, we say to you: Rejoice, Saint Irino, for through you the light of Christ has risen in pagan countries; Rejoice, wondrous admonition for godless kings and warriors. Rejoice, glorious defense of the city of Mageddon; Rejoice, confession of the Orthodox faith and the radiance of the Gospel. Rejoice, faithful guardian of the law of God; Rejoice, long-suffering Bride of God, who was burned many times by the cruel Zedekiah. Rejoice, Irino, glorious bride of Christ.
Kontakion 6 You were jealous of the Preacher of the God-bearing Apostle, before the tormentors you fearlessly preached Christ God, for whose sake you suffered a grievous wound, bonds and prison; You were burned at the stake in the copper caves, but the Angel of the Lord preserved you for the glory of God, and we cry out to Almighty God: Alleluia.
Ikos 6 The light of God's understanding, the light of the Lord Jesus Christ, has shone in your heart. He, like your beloved Bridegroom, strengthened you as a suffering participant in His suffering, when they drove sharp nails into your heels and bridled you like a donkey, forcibly leading you through five races, but in your terrible suffering, praying to God, you enlightened thousands of people, and the open earth opened up the lawless tormentors. swallowed up, we cry out to you: Rejoice, Irino, servant of the Lord and our prayer book; Rejoice, meek dove, who bore ulcers for the Lord’s sake. Rejoice, healed by an angel from wounds bleeding from cloves; Rejoice, for the Lord has given you the strength and wisdom to overcome those who oppose the truth. Rejoice, for through you those who repent are healed from many wounds and illnesses; Rejoice, for through your prayer demons are driven away and lepers are cleansed. Rejoice, Irino, glorious bride of Christ.
Kontakion 7 The insane tormentor, Saint Irino, desired to bend you to idolatry, exhorting you to devour the sacrifice of an idol, but you, protected by the Cross, exclaimed: “I offer sacrifice to the Most High God, Who possesses the life and death of all people. Come to your senses, O king, you who have been deceived by Satan!” The enraged tormentor, gnashing his teeth, ordered to fire you three times in the copper caves, but the Angel of the Lord, having cooled the flame, preserved you harmlessly for the glory of those glorifying God with the song: Alleluia.
Ikos 7 The evil Vavadon showed a new rage of inhumanity, when he commanded you, the holy martyr Irino, to be tied with iron chains to a red-hot glass, to pour oil and resin on you. But you, God’s sufferer, were in a burning flame, with the Angel who separated you from the Reshota and cooled you, glorified God. Amazed by such a miracle, the tormentor fell at your feet, asking for forgiveness and holy prayers for the entire country that had turned to the Lord. We appeal to you with love: Rejoice, long-suffering martyr, who endured much for the Church of Christ; Rejoice, holy maiden, burning for Christ’s sake in the caves and at the stake. Rejoice, for the salvation of people on the hot fire! Rejoice, great passion-bearer, grievously tormented for Christ's sake. Rejoice, for through your suffering you led many people to the recognition of the true God; Rejoice, conqueror of the Church's enemies and quick helper in our troubles. Rejoice, Irino, glorious bride of Christ.
Kontakion 8 Having seen the strange and terrible sufferings of the holy martyr, we were truly amazed at how the young girl, in her youthful body, courageously endured torment for Christ, and we, too, filled with tenderness, gratefully cry out to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 8 All the sweetest Jesus was sweetness to you, martyr Irino, but you endured bitter torments and severe tortures for Christ and the salvation of people from seven torments, and like a lamb from the wicked Savaria you were beheaded with a sword and buried, and then you rose from the dead with with a branch of paradise in her hands, and in Mesemvria she appeared to the king to admonish and shame the blasphemers. With fear, the murdering king fell at your feet, crying out: “Great is the Christian God.” Enlighten us too, Saint Irino, and let us call to you: Rejoice, Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Irino, enlightener of pagan countries; Rejoice, full of the grace of God. Rejoice, God-beloved gusset, called out from among the inhabitants of heaven to save the blasphemous and outcast; Rejoice, glorious martyr, who enlightened many who were against God. Rejoice, for by the power of God you have abolished the demonstration of deceit; Rejoice, blessed passion-bearer, who received a branch of paradise from Christ. Rejoice, Irino, glorious bride of Christ.
Kontakion 9 All the heavenly powers rejoiced, praising God, who gave you such courage and unshakable firmness to defeat the soul-destroying asps in the battle. For you, strengthened by the power of God, enlightening the tongues of thousands, rejoiced, singing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 9 Vetii, with their many rhetorical tongues, will not be able to utter your painful sufferings and martyrdoms, which you endured for Christ. Who can exhaust your countless sufferings, which tremble us as we sing to you: Rejoice, miraculous spectacle of Angel and man; Rejoice, for with your patience you surprised the tormentors. Rejoice, you shed your blood for Christ your Bridegroom; Rejoice, praise to the disciples and joy to the faithful. Rejoice, fruitful vine of the garden of Jesus; Rejoice, fruitful branch of the vine of Christ. Rejoice, Irino, glorious bride of Christ.
Kontakion 10 Having desired to save souls perishing in the darkness of idolatry, the God-loving martyr Irino, zealous for the Lord, like Elijah, by the power of God you crushed idols, drove away demons, denounced and put to shame the tormentors. She constantly sang the victory song to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 10 Thou art a strong and unshakable wall in the confession of the Orthodox faith; You did not spare your sweet blooming youth, you despised all the royal property of your father. She desired, through martyrdom, to be married to Christ and to be with Him in the Angelic state. We, remembering your exploits and sufferings, please you: Rejoice, you who ended your martyr’s path well; Rejoice, having served the Lord with your life equal to the apostles. Rejoice, girded with power from above to fight against the enemy; Rejoice, strong intercession of faithful Christians. Rejoice, helpless intercessor, patroness of orphans; Rejoice, joy to the martyrs, glory to the virgins. Rejoice, Irino, glorious bride of Christ.
Kontakion 11 Our singing of praise for the merit of chanting our mind is perplexed, holy martyr Irene, for you imitated the crucified Lamb - Christ. You laid down your soul for your friends, for there is no one to have greater love than this. Both of us, thank all beings, sing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 11 A luminous lamp of the true light, you appear to those on earth, God’s chosen maiden, enlightening the hearts of the faithful, healing the sick and lepers who come to you with love, giving health to the weakened and born blind, who thank you in this way: Rejoice, strong intercessor for the salvation of sinners; Rejoice, intercessor of the offended, combatant of the wicked. Rejoice, vessel of heavenly blessings; Rejoice, golden censer, bringing incense to God in prayer for us. Rejoice, inexhaustible treasure of God's gifts; Rejoice, for the Lord has given you His Kingdom. Rejoice, Irino, glorious bride of Christ.
Kontakion 12 Grace was given to you, as an apostle, to broadcast the word of God to the sinful world, to turn away those darkened by idolatry and to help everyone in their earthly labors. O illustrious servant of the Lord, who has labored much for the Christian race, pray for us to the All-Merciful God, our Savior, that He may grant us in this and in the future to glorify God in the Trinity: Alleluia.
Ikos 12 We sing of your glorious deeds, we honor your sufferings, we praise your long-suffering, we bless your holy death, we glorify your invincible courage in your weak body, with which you trampled all the wisdom of this world. In memory of your exploits and sufferings, receive from us a song of praise: Rejoice, brought into the heavenly chamber from the virgin faces; Rejoice, escorted from the martyr regiments to the crown of glory with a voice of joy. Rejoice, you who received the most wonderful kiss from the inhabitants of heaven in the Lord; Rejoice, for your reward is eternal joy in the lordship of the saints. Rejoice, for through you we hope to be saved from unexpected death; Rejoice, through your intercession the Kingdom of God has been granted tea. Rejoice, Irino, glorious bride of Christ.
Kontakion 13 O most glorious and all-praiseworthy saint, Great Martyr Irene! Accept from us this little song of praise and do not stop praying for us to the Lord God, that he will deliver us from enemies visible and invisible and through your intercession will make us worthy of the eternal Kingdom, where, together with you and all the saints, we may sing to God: Alleluia.
(This Kontakion is read three times, then Ikos 1 and Kontakion 1)
Who is Saint Irene
The girl, who suffered severe trials, was born in the 1st century into a wealthy family. At birth she was given the name Penelope. The girl’s father held the position of governor of one of the regions of Macedonia and did not deny his daughter anything. He even built a separate palace for Penelope, in which the girl lived with her teacher and maids.
From childhood, the girl was taught various sciences, hiring a teacher Apelian for this. This man was a Christian and secretly from everyone he told the girl about Christ, his feat and sacrifice for the sake of all humanity.
Penelope accepted the Christian faith with all her heart and wanted to devote her life to serving God. However, the parents wanted to get their daughter married, trying to arrange her future. The Lord sent the girl a sign, which she interpreted with the help of her teacher, and refused to obey the will of her parents. Three birds flew into the window of the future saint; they were:
- a dove holding an olive branch in its beak, symbolizing the grace of the Lord;
- an eagle with a wreath in its beak, this meant receiving the Holy Spirit through serving God;
- a raven with a snake in its beak symbolized that dark forces would resist the girl in every possible way and tempt her to renounce her beliefs.
The teacher explained to Penelope that the Lord had chosen her to preach the Word of God to the pagans, but on this path she would face many trials and torments. Despite this, the girl firmly decided to devote her life to serving Christ. At baptism she was given the name Irina.
Having learned about their daughter's plans, the parents behaved differently. Her mother strongly supported the girl’s choice and did not oppose her decision not to get married. However, Irina's father became angry and ordered his daughter to be thrown into prison. The next morning he ordered the girl to be trampled by horses. However, when Irina was taken out, not a single animal moved in her direction; on the contrary, one horse ran up to the Christian’s father and bit off his hand. Irina offered a prayer to the Lord, and the animal calmed down, and her father’s hand appeared again. These miracles were witnessed by about 4,000 people who immediately converted to Christianity.
After this incident, the parents did not prevent their daughter from preaching the Word of God, but, on the contrary, accompanied her in everything. The new ruler of the region tried to force the girl to worship the pagan gods with threats and torture, but the Lord again protected his student, and the ruler was overthrown.
When the saint felt death approaching, she asked to be taken to a cave on the mountain and to close the entrance with a stone. After 4 days, her friends decided to visit the cave, but they did not find the body of the great martyr.
