Passion of Irenaeus, Bishop of Sirmium · §4 · Origen of Alexandria

Thanksgiving and Prayer Before Execution

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After Probus sentences Irenaeus to drowning and Irenaeus asks for the sword as well, Probus orders it and Irenaeus is led to the bridge over the Sava.

Probus, 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.

Greek

V. Iratus itaque Probus super fiduciam beatissimi viri, iussit eum etiam gladio percuti. sanctus vero dei martyr, tamquam secundam palmam accipiens, deo gratias agebat dicens: Tibi gratias ago, domine Iesu Christe, qui mihi per varias poenas et tormenta donas tolerantiam et aeternae gloriae me participem efficere dignatus es. et cum venisset ad pontem qui vocatur Basentis, exspolians se vestimenta sua et extendens manus in caelum oravit dicens: Domine Iesu Christe, qui pro mundi salute pati dignatus es, pateant caeli tui, ut suscipiant angeli spiritum servi tui Irenaei, qui propter nomen tuum et plebem tuam productam de ecclesia tua catholica Sirmiensium haec patior. te peto, tuamque deprecor misericordiam, ut et me suscipere et hos in fide tua confirmare digneris. sic itaque percussus gladio a ministris proiectus est in fluvium Savi. VI. Martyrizatus est famulus dei sanctus Irenaeus episcopus civitatis Sirmiensium die VIII. idus Aprilis sub Diocletiano imperatore, agente Probo praeside, regnante domino nostro Iesu Christo; cui est gloria in saecula saeculorum, amen.

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.