Passion of Irenaeus, Bishop of Sirmium · §3 · Origen of Alexandria

Night hearing, refusal of family ties, and sentence to drowning

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Governor Probus questions Irenaeus again at midnight after prison torture and presses him to offer sacrifice.

One 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."

Greek

IV. Quodam autem tempore media nocte, residente pro tribunali praeside Probo, introductus est iterum beatissimus martyr Irenaeus. Probus dixit ad eum: Iam sacrifica, Irenaee, lucrans poenas. Irenaeus respondit: Fac quod iussum est, hoc a me non exspectes. Probus indignatus eum fustibus caedi praecepit. Irenaeus respondit: Deum habeo, quem a prima aetate colere didici: ipsum adoro, qui me confortat in omnibus, cui etiam et sacrifico; deos vero manu factos adorare non possum. Probus dixit: Lucrare mortem. iam tibi sufficiant quae tolerasti tormenta. Irenaeus respondit: Lucror continuo mortem quando per eas quas mihi putas inferre poenas, quas ego non sentio, propter deum accipio vitam aeternam. Probus dixit: Uxorem habes? Irenaeus respondit: Non habeo. Probus dixit: Filios habes? Irenaeus respondit: Non habeo. Probus dixit: Parentes habes? Irenaeus respondit: Non habeo. Probus dixit: Et qui fuerunt illi qui praeterita flebant sessione? Irenaeus respondit: Praeceptum est domini mei Iesu Christi dicentis: Qui diligit patrem aut matrem aut uxorem aut filios aut fratres aut parentes super me, non est me dignus. itaque ad deum in caelum adspiciens et ad eius promissiones intendens, omnia despiciens nullum parentem absque eo se nosse atque habere fatebatur. Probus dixit: Vel propter illos sacrifica. Irenaeus respondit: Filii mei deum habent quem et ego, qui potest illos salvare. tu autem fac quod tibi praeceptum est. Probus dixit: Consule tibi, iuvenis. immola, ut non te cruciatibus impendam. Irenaeus respondit: Fac quod vis. iam nunc videbis quantam mihi dominus Iesus Christus dabit tolerantiam adversus tuas insidias. Probus dixit: Dabo in te sententiam. Irenaeus respondit: Gratulor si feceris. Probus data sententia dixit: Irenaeum inobedientem praeceptis regalibus in fluvium praecipitari iubeo. Irenaeus respondit: Multifarias minas tuas et tormenta plurima exspectabam, ut etiam post haec me ferro subiiceres. tu autem nihil horum intulisti. unde hoc facias oro, ut cognoscas quemadmodum Christiani propter fidem, quae est in deo, mortem contemnere consueverunt.

About this text

To set before the hearers the contest and victory of Irenaeus, bishop of Sirmium, under Diocletian and Maximian.

This passion was written by an anonymous Christian of Sirmium and names no individual reader. It belongs to the time of Diocletian and Maximian. It was written to set before its hearers the contest and victory of Irenaeus, bishop of Sirmium, and it closes by asking Christ to receive Irenaeus and to confirm his Catholic church of Sirmium in the faith.

Irenaeus is arrested and brought before Probus, governor of Pannonia, who orders him to offer sacrifice to the gods or face torture. Irenaeus refuses, welcomes suffering as sharing the passion of Christ, and holds to his confession of faith under torture and in prison. When his parents, children, wife, household, neighbours and friends beg him to spare his youth he answers no one, keeping before his eyes Christ's saying about denying Christ. After a second hearing at night he again refuses, says he worships only God and not handmade gods, disowns wife, children and parents for Christ's sake, is sentenced to drowning, asks for the sword as well, prays for his spirit and for the church of Sirmium, and is then beheaded and thrown into the Sava. The reader hears the words of Probus, the answers and prayers of Irenaeus, the plea of his family and friends, and sayings of Jesus Christ quoted by the narrator and by Irenaeus, which Irenaeus sets against the order to sacrifice.

Offer sacrifice here means performing the required pagan offering as a loyalty test. Gods are the pagan gods, described as handmade. Governor is the Roman provincial judge, bishop is the head of the local congregation, and contest is the trial pictured as ending in victory. These in the closing prayer means the people of the church of Sirmium. The work quotes Scripture without naming books. The sayings used are cited here as Exod 22:20, Matt 10:33 and Matt 10:37, and no Psalms occur.

This work has passed this project's source check. This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.