Saint Irene of Athens – Byzantine Empress and Defender of Icon Veneration

ST. IRENE OF ATHENS

Saint Irene of Athens was a Byzantine empress renowned for restoring the veneration of icons during the period of Byzantine iconoclasm. She became empress consort in 769 and later sole ruler after orchestrating the blinding of her son, Constantine VI, in 797. Her most enduring legacy lies in her defense of icon veneration, culminating in the Second Council of Nicaea in 787, which affirmed the legitimacy of venerating icons within the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Saint Irene of Athens, born between 750 and 756, was a member of the noble Greek Sarantapechos family. She married Emperor Leo IV in 769 and became empress consort. Upon Leo IV's death in 780, Irene served as regent for their son, Constantine VI. In 797, she orchestrated a coup that led to Constantine VI's blinding and deposition, making Irene the sole ruler of the Byzantine Empire.Irene's reign was marked by her staunch support for the veneration of icons, which was a contentious issue during the period of Byzantine iconoclasm. In 787, she convened the Second Council of Nicaea, which declared the veneration of icons as an article of faith, reuniting the Eastern Church with that of Rome. This council affirmed that the honor paid to icons was not idolatrous, as the honor ultimately passed to the person represented by the icon.Despite her religious reforms, Irene faced political challenges. In 802, a conspiracy led by her finance minister, Nikephoros, resulted in her deposition and exile to the island of Lesbos, where she spent her final days in relative obscurity. She died on August 9, 803.

Irene's steadfast support for icon veneration earned her recognition as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Her feast day is celebrated on August 9. Theologians like Theodore the Studite lauded her efforts, and her influence persisted through her descendants, such as Theophano, who later became empress consort.

Feast Day

7-8-

Birth Date

--Between 750 and 756

Died Date

--803 AD

Canonised Date

--N/A

N/A

Prayer Information Not Available
ST. IRENE OF ATHENS

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ST. IRENE OF ATHENS

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