Irenaeus
2nd-century Greek bishop and Doctor of the Church / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Irenaeus (/ɪrɪˈneɪəs/; Greek: Εἰρηναῖος Eirēnaios; c. 130 – c. 202 AD)[4] was a Greek bishop noted for his role in guiding and expanding Christian communities in the southern regions of present-day France and, more widely, for the development of Christian theology by combating heterodox or Gnostic interpretations of Scripture as heresy and defining proto-orthodoxy. Originating from Smyrna, he had seen and heard the preaching of Polycarp,[5] who in turn was said to have heard John the Evangelist,[6] and thus was the last-known living connection with the Apostles.
Irenaeus of Smyrna | |
|---|---|
| Doctor Unitatis | |
 20th century Greek icon depicting Saint Irenaeus. | |
| Diocese | Lyon |
| See | Lyon |
| Predecessor | Pothinus |
| Successor | Zechariah |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | by Polycarp |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 130 AD |
| Died | c. 202 AD Lugdunum in Gaul (modern-day Lyon, France) Theology career |
| Notable work | Against Heresies |
| Theological work | |
| Era | Patristic Age |
| Language | Greek |
| Tradition or movement | Trinitarianism |
| Main interests | Theodicy, millennialism |
| Notable ideas | Irenaean theodicy Recapitulation theory of atonement |
| Sainthood | |
| Feast day | June 28 (Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Communion, Orthodox Church); August 23 (Eastern Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches); Monday after fourth Sunday of the Exaltation of the Cross (Armenian Apostolic Church)[1] |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Catholicism Assyrian Church of the East Eastern Orthodox Church Lutheran Church Oriental Orthodox Church Anglican Communion |
| Title as Saint | Bishop, Martyr, Bishop of Lyons, Teacher of the Faith and Doctor of the Church. |
Irenaeus | |
|---|---|
| Influences | Clement, Ignatius,[2] Justin Martyr, Papias, Polycarp, The Shepherd of Hermas |
| Influenced | Agapius, Augustine,[3] Basil the Great, Epiphanius, Hippolytus, Tertullian |
| Part of a series on |
| Theodicy |
|---|
Chosen as bishop of Lugdunum, now Lyon, his best-known work is Against Heresies, often cited as Adversus Haereses, a refutation of gnosticism, in particular that of Valentinus.[7] To counter the doctrines of the gnostic sects claiming secret wisdom, he offered three pillars of orthodoxy: the scriptures, the tradition handed down from the apostles, and the teaching of the apostles' successors.[8][9] Intrinsic to his writing is that the surest source of Christian guidance is the Church of Rome,[7] and he is the earliest surviving witness to regard all four of the now-canonical gospels as essential.[10]
He is recognized as a saint in the Catholic Church, which celebrates his feast on 28 June,[11] and in the Eastern Orthodox Churches, which celebrates the feast on 23 August.
Irenaeus is honored in the Church of England and in the Episcopal Church on 28 June.[12][13] Pope Francis declared Irenaeus the 37th Doctor of the Church on 21 January 2022.[14]