Irene the Great Martyr

Great Martyr Irene of Thessaloniki.

The Holy Great Martyr Irene lived in the early centuries of the Church. According to tradition she was the daughter of a pagan ruler and came to faith in Christ in her youth, receiving in baptism the name Irene, which means peace. Confessing the Lord openly, she endured many tortures with courage, and her endurance drew multitudes to belief.

She is honored as one of the great women martyrs of the Church, and many churches across the Greek world bear her name. Her feast on May 5 is the beloved name day of all who bear the name Irene.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Irene the Great Martyr is commemorated on May 5. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on May 18 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

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

Eirini, Irini, Irene, Rena, Reni

Also commemorated on May 5

• Ephraim of Nea Makri

  Martyr, Εφραίμ ο Μεγαλομάρτυς

  Great Martyr Ephraim the Wonderworker of Nea Makri, monk of Mount Amomon martyred by the Turks.

  Name days: Efraim, Ephraim, Efrem, Ephrem

• Euthymios of Madytos

  Hierarch, Ευθύμιος Μαδύτου

  Saint Euthymios the Wonderworker, Bishop of Madytos in Thrace.

• Irenaeus, Irene and Peregrinus of Thessalonica

  Martyr, Ειρηναίος, Ειρήνη και Περεγρίνος

  Holy Martyrs Irenaeus, Irene and Peregrinus, who suffered at Thessalonica.

  Name days: Irenaios, Irenaeus, Eirinaios

• Neophytos, Gaius and Gaianos

  Martyr, Νεόφυτος, Γάιος και Γαϊανός

  Holy Martyrs Neophytos, Gaius and Gaianos.

  Name days: Neophytos, Neofytos, Gaios, Gaius

• Martha of Monemvasia

  Holy Woman, Μάρθα Μονεμβασίας

  Venerable Martha of Monemvasia, a woman ascetic of the Peloponnese.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.