Passion of Irenaeus, Bishop of Sirmium

1When persecution broke out under the emperors Diocletian and Maximian, Christians threw themselves into contests of many kinds. They accepted the punishments the tyrants inflicted on them with minds devoted to God, and so made themselves sharers in rewards that last forever. The same happened with Irenaeus, the servant of God and bishop of the city of Sirmium. I will now lay his contest before you and show you his victory. By his inborn modesty and his fear of God, which he served with upright deeds, he was found worthy of his name.

He was arrested and brought before Probus, the governor of Pannonia. The governor said to him, "In obedience to the divine commands, offer sacrifice to the gods." Bishop Irenaeus answered, "Whoever offers sacrifice to the gods and not to God shall be rooted out (Exodus 22:20)." The governor said, "Our most merciful emperors have ordered that you must either offer sacrifice or give way to torture." Irenaeus answered, "I have been commanded to undergo torture rather than to deny God and offer sacrifice to demons."

The governor said, "Either offer sacrifice, or I will have you tortured." Irenaeus answered, "I rejoice if you do it, so that I may be found sharing in the passion of my Lord." The governor ordered him to be violently handled. When he was being handled most cruelly, the governor said to him, "What do you say, Irenaeus? Offer sacrifice." Irenaeus answered, "I offer sacrifice to my God through a good confession of faith, and to Him I have always offered sacrifice."

2Then his parents came and saw him under torture and begged him to yield. His children clung to his feet and said, "Have pity on yourself and on us, father." His wives mourned over his face and his youth as they pleaded with him. Grief and weeping from all his parents hung over him, groaning from his household, wailing from his neighbours, and lamentation from his friends, and they all cried out to him together, "Have pity on your tender youth."

But, as has been said, Irenaeus was held by a stronger longing and kept before his eyes the sentence of the Lord, who said, "Whoever denies me before men, I also will deny him before my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 10:33). So he looked past them all and answered none of them, for he was hurrying to reach the hope of his heavenly calling.

Probus the governor said, "What do you say? Let their tears turn you from your madness, think of your youth, and offer sacrifice." Irenaeus answered, "I am thinking of myself for eternity if I do not offer sacrifice." So Probus ordered him to be taken back into the custody of the prison, and after he had been shut there for many days he was afflicted with various punishments.

3One night, at midnight, Governor Probus took his seat at the tribunal, and the most blessed martyr Irenaeus was brought in again. Probus said to him, "Now offer sacrifice, Irenaeus, and escape punishment." Irenaeus answered, "Do what you have been ordered to do. Do not expect this from me." In anger Probus ordered him to be beaten with clubs. Irenaeus answered, "I have God, whom I have learned to worship since my earliest childhood. I worship him, for he strengthens me in everything, and to him I also offer sacrifice. But I cannot worship gods made by hand."

Probus said, "You are earning death for yourself. Let the torture you have already endured be enough for you." Irenaeus answered, "I gain death again and again, for through these punishments you think you bring upon me, which I do not feel, I receive eternal life for God's sake." Probus said, "Do you have a wife?" Irenaeus answered, "I do not." Probus said, "Do you have children?" Irenaeus answered, "I do not." Probus said, "Do you have parents?" Irenaeus answered, "I do not." Probus said, "Then who were those who wept at the last hearing?" Irenaeus answered, "My Lord Jesus Christ gave this command, saying, 'Whoever loves father or mother or wife or children or brothers or parents more than me is not worthy of me' (Matthew 10:37)." He looked up to God in heaven and fixed his mind on his promises. Despising all else, he declared that he knew and had no parent apart from him.

Probus said, "At least for their sake offer sacrifice." Irenaeus answered, "My children have God, whom I also have, and he can save them. But you, do what has been commanded to you." Probus said, "Take thought for yourself, young man. Offer sacrifice, so I will not hand you over to torture." Irenaeus answered, "Do what you wish. You will see right now what great endurance the Lord Jesus Christ will give me against your plots." Probus said, "I will pass sentence upon you." Irenaeus answered, "I shall be glad if you do." After giving sentence Probus said, "I order Irenaeus, disobedient to the imperial commands, to be thrown into the river." Irenaeus answered, "I expected many threats from you and much torture, and that after this you would also put me to the sword. You have brought none of these upon me. So I beg you to do this, that you may learn how Christians, through faith which is in God, are accustomed to despise death."

4Probus, angered by the confidence of the blessed man, ordered him to be struck also with the sword. Receiving it as a second palm, God's holy martyr gave thanks to God. Irenaeus says, "I give you thanks, Lord Jesus Christ, for through many punishments and torture you give me endurance and have graced me to share in eternal glory."

When he came to the bridge called Basentis, he stripped off his clothes and stretched his hands toward heaven and prayed. Irenaeus says, "Lord Jesus Christ, you were willing to suffer for the salvation of the world. Let your heavens stand open, so that angels may receive the spirit of your servant Irenaeus. I suffer this for your name and for your people, brought forth from your church of Sirmium. I ask you and entreat your mercy to receive me and to strengthen these in your faith."

Then the attendants struck him with the sword and threw him into the Sava River. God's holy servant Irenaeus, bishop of the city of Sirmium, was martyred on April 6 under the emperor Diocletian, when Probus was governor, while our Lord Jesus Christ reigns, to whom is glory forever and ever, amen.