Irene, Agape & Chionia

Holy Martyrs Agape, Irene, and Chionia.

The holy virgins Agape, Irene, and Chionia were sisters from the region of Thessaloniki who suffered in the year 304, during the persecution of Diocletian. Arrested for their faith and for keeping the holy Scriptures when the emperor had ordered them destroyed, they refused to eat food sacrificed to idols or deny Christ, standing firm through interrogation.

Agape and Chionia were burned, and Irene, after further trials, followed her sisters in martyrdom. Three sisters crowned as one, they are commemorated on April 16.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Irene, Agape & Chionia is commemorated on April 16. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on April 29 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

People with these names keep their name day on this feast:

Irene, Irini, Eirini, Rena

Also commemorated on April 16

• Chariessa, Nike, Galene and the Women Martyrs of Corinth

  Holy Woman, Χάρισσα, Νίκη, Γαλήνη, Καλλίς, Νουνεχία, Βασίλισσα, Θεοδώρα και Ειρήνη

  Holy Women Martyrs Chariessa, Nike, Galene, Kalles, Nunechia, Basilissa, Theodora and Irene, drowned at Corinth with Bishop Leonides.

  Name days: Galini, Galene, Galina, Chariessa

• Michael of Vourla

  Martyr, Μιχαήλ ο Βουρλιώτης

  Holy New Martyr Michael of Vourla, beheaded at Smyrna at the age of eighteen.

• Amphilochios of Patmos

  Venerable, Αμφιλόχιος Μακρής

  Venerable Amphilochios Makris of Patmos, elder and founder of the Convent of the Annunciation.

• Christopher of Dionysiou

  Martyr, Χριστόφορος ο Οσιομάρτυς

  Holy New Martyr Christopher, monk of the Dionysiou Monastery, martyred at Adrianople.

• Michael Mavroudis

  Martyr, Μιχαήλ ο Μαυρουδής

  Holy New Martyr Michael Mavroudis of Agrapha, burned at Thessalonica.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.