St. Ireneus of Lyons (August 23)
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http://home.it.net.au/~jgrapsas/pages/St_Irenaeus.htm
St Irenaeus of Lyons
Commemorated August 23
On 23 August of every year the Church celebrates the memory of an
important saint and bishop of the second century Christian Church. St.
Irenaeus was bishop of Lyons (Lugdunum) in the second century. Born
c.a. 130 A.D.(1), he was to become an outstanding theologian and
ecclesiastical leader; a true witness and propagator to the apostolic
faith and apostolic tradition. He was an ecumenical man who, even
though wrote against Gnosticism and Marcionism(2) always stressed
unity. He was most probably born in Smyrna (3) but migrated to Gaul
where he spent the mature years of his life and where he eventually
died a martyr c.a. 202 A.D.
Irenaeus received a liberal education, becoming acquainted with both
Holy Scripture and Greek philosophy and literature. He was greatly
influenced by St. Polycarp from whom he received the seeds of the true
apostolic tradition. Writing to the Roman presbyter Florinus, Irenaeus
reveals this influence:
"For while I was still a boy I knew you [Florinus]...in Polycarp's
house... I remember the events of those days more clearly than those
that happened recently... I can speak of the place that St. Polycarp
sat and disputed, how he came in and went out... the discourses which
he made to the people... how he reported his influence with John and
with the others who had seen the Lord."(4)
It is beyond doubt that Irenaeus was also well acquainted with Greek
thought. He was very familiar with the writings of Greek apologists
such as Justin Martyr (5) and Athenagoras whose works he sought to
explain to the Greek-speaking world.
Irenaeus left Asia Minor and went to Gaul. He probably accompanied St.
Polycarp to Rome in 155 A.D. and then continued to Lyons. Lyons was a
great commercial city. It was "the country in which the arena was
crowded with people... famous and held in higher repute than any in
the land.' (6) It was situated on the Rhone River and was the centre
of the Roman road system for Gaul. Intimate relations existed from
very remote times between the ports of Asia Minor and Marseilles,
which had been colonized from Asia Minor approximately six centuries
before the rise of Christianity. During the Roman period, Levantine
traders were regularly transporting their goods up the Rhone as far as
Lyons. It was only natural that many of whom traveled and settled in
Lyons were missionaries who brought Christianity to the pagan Gauls
thereby founding a dynamic Church. Therefore even though Lyons was the
second most important capital of the Western Roman Empire, it was
still basically a Greek - speaking community. It was to this Church
that Irenaeus came to serve as a presbyter. The first historical
mention of Irenaeus is in 177 A.D. where he is a prominent priest in
this area. During this time the Montanist controversy was raging in
the Church of Phrygia. When this heresy reached Lyons a letter was
written on this matter to Pope Eleutherius and which Irenaeus was
delegated and entrusted to take to Rome. The letter, which on this
occasion he took to the pope in Rome recommended him excellently;
"We have asked our brother and companion Irenaeus to bring this
letter to you and we beg you to hold him in esteem for he is zealous
for the covenant of Christ. For had we known that rank can confer
righteousness on anyone, we should first of all have recommended him
as being a presbyter of the church, for that is his position." (7)
Many scholars contend that as a result of being sent to Rome he
escaped the terrible persecutions which broke out in 177 A.D. by the
decree of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius (8). Aurelius was a dedicated
pagan who vehemently persecuted Christians with "noisy abuse, blows,
dragging along the ground, plundering, stoning, imprisonment...."(9)
On his return from Rome Irenaeus was chosen to succeed Pothinus as
bishop who had been previously martyred.
As bishop, Irenaeus saw himself as a successor of the apostles; a link
between the historical person of Jesus and the contemporary Church.
Like St. Ignatius of Antioch, Irenaeus saw himself as the centre of
the Eucharist however he also saw himself as a teacher. Because of his
confrontation with the Gnostics, Irenaeus placed appropriate
importance to the continuity of teaching within the Church. (10) Since
the Gnostics appealed to a secret tradition handed down by a secret
succession of pedagogues, Irenaeus answered by appealing to the
tradition openly promulgated in the four canonical gospels and to the
unbroken public succession of bishops within a see. He saw himself as
the one, par excellence, who taught the truth.
"We should obey those presbyters (11) in the Church who have their
succession from the apostles, and who, together with succession in the
episcopate, have received the assured charisma of the truth (certum
charisma veritatis)."(12)
Irenaeus viewed apostolic succession as the true sign of continuity
with the apostolic faith. He saw himself as a successor of the
apostles, as alter apostolus (13) and therefore as someone who
preserved the continuity of doctrinal teaching, the fullness of the
Catholic faith and life.
When dealing with the heresies Irenaeus not only exposed and overthrew
their teaching but also sought the orthodox interpretation and
teaching as well. In spite of Irenaeus' interest in guarding his flock
from the many heresies, his main preoccupation was the individual and
his salvation. He was concerned with humankind's progress in order
that he may achieve "the vision and enjoyment of God." (14) Far from
being speculative, his theology whilst deep and complex, was certainly
concerned with finding ways to help his flock apply it to their lives.
Since Irenaeus main interest was soteriological, he worked hard to
spread Christianity to the neighboring provinces of Lyons (15) as
well.
The next historical mention of Irenaeus is between the years 189 A.D.
and 198 A.D., concerning the celebration of Pascha (Easter). The
Churches of Asia celebrated Easter on the fourteenth day after the new
moon with which the month of Nisan began. The rest of Christendom held
that the day on which the Resurrection could be celebrated was Sunday.
The pope most probably sent letters to Asia Minor requesting councils
to be convoked in order to discuss the proper day for the celebration
of Pascha. Church councils were held in other provinces including
Rome. The decisions of the councils were unanimous except for the
province of Ephesus, Pope Victor was determined to bring about
uniformity to the universal Church and he attempted to do this by
suppressing the custom of Asia. He endeavored to excommunicate the
Church of Asia as heterodox. To this decree Irenaeus answered and
warned Pope Victor. Eusebius the historian relates that Irenaeus lived
up to his name as 'peacemaker.'
"Irenaeus, whose name means 'peaceable' and who by temperate was a
peacemaker, pleaded and negotiated thus for the peace of the churches.
He corresponded by letter not only with Victor but with very many
other heads of churches, setting out both sides of the question under
discussion." (16)
This incident is important in understanding how Irenaeus saw the
Church of Rome. By his intervention in the Paschal controversy, he did
not recognize the primacy of authority in the Church of Rome.
After his incident with Pope Victor, Irenaeus disappears from history
and it is believed that he died approximately 202 AD. It is not before
Gregory of Tours that mention is made of his having died a martyr.
There is debate amongst scholars as to his martyrdom since historians
such as Eusebius make no mention of this event. (17)
What is important is not when or how he died but that through his
writings, one has a valuable and authentic link to the apostles. One
sees a man who had a depth of knowledge, a depth of faith, a love of
scripture and God Himself. He was a "curious explorer of all
doctrine" (18) as Tertullian described him. Just like a surgeon, when
performing a major operation, Irenaeus too, through his writings lays
bare the nerves and sinews so as to take his reader to the very heart
of a heresy with the sole purpose of healing the Church from such
disease. 'Orthodoxy' did not survive by right in the early Church, but
because it had people like Irenaeus and to this lies a clue to his
grandeur and to his vigour.
By Philip Kariatlis
St Andrew's Theological College,
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia
Sources:
1. The precise date on which he was born cannot be determined due to
the lack of sources, however modern scholarship tends to place his
birth c.a. 130 A.D. The birth of Irenaeus has been placed as early as
97 A.D. by Dodwell and as late as 140 A.D. by others.
2. Gnosticism and Marcionism were two great heresies which the early
Church encountered in its early history.
3. The evidence that he was born in Smyrna is implied by the fact that
he had St. Polycarp as teacher in his youth. However the fact that
Irenaeus was in Smyrna as a boy does not demand that he be born there.
4. Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, V. xx, 5 - 6.
5. Robinson, J.A., who is the editor of Demonstration of the Apostolic
Teaching by Irenaeus argues that he studied under him in Rome as well.
6. Ecclesiastical History, V. i, 1
7. ibid, V. iv, 2
8. Cayre, F.A.A. in his Patrologie et Histoire de la Thiologie writes
thai 'il dut, sans doute, u ce voyage u Rome de n'Ktre pas victime de
la persicution qui sivit 'a Lyon en 177-178, etdont saint Polhin fut
la plus illustre victime.' p.161
9. Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History V, i. 7
10. Bishop Kallistos Ware, in his article "Patterns of Episcopacy in
the Early Church and Today, An Orthodox View." in Bishop, But
WhatKind^ p.11
11. By 'presbyters' Irenaeus means 'bishops,' A survival of the
primitive New Testament usuage.12. Against the Heresies. IV, xxvi, 2
13. For Irenaeus the bishop is alter apostolus wheras for Ignatius the
bishop is alter Christus. For Irenaeus, the bishop was someone who
expressed the apostolicity of the Church whereas for Ignatius the
bishop was someone who took care of his flock as a living icon of
Christ. There is no contradiction in the two terms but simply a
difference of emphasis; the terms are complementary.
14. Against the Heresies. IV. xxxvii, 7.
15. Dufourcq writes, "Son eveque surveilles les rares iglises qui y
sont iparses, et, sans qu' on puisse pricisiment difinir son rruvre
missionnaire, on voit que certaines iglises, celles par exernple de
Besannon et de Valence, pritendent devoir u saint Irinie la premiere
annonce de I' Evangile.", cited in Cayri, FAA. opt. cit. p.162
16. Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, V, xxiv, 18.
17. Quasten, J. Patrology. p.288
18. Q.S, Tetulliani, Adversus Valentinianos, ch. 5. Ed. by Aldo
Marastoni (Padova, n.d. ), p.56, [ominum doctrnarum curiosis-simus
explorator], taken from the article by Constantelos, D., "Irenaeus of
Lyons and His Central Views on Human Nature."
Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
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http://sethearl.wordpress.com/2006/09/03/irenaeus-of-lyons-contending-for-the-faith-once-delivered/
IRENAEUS OF LYONS: Contending for the Faith Once Delivered
By Robert K. Arakaki
St. Irenaeus is considered by many to be the greatest Christian
theologian of the second century. Irenaeus is well known for Against
the Heretics-a theological classic in which he defended the Christian
Faith against the heresy of gnosticism. He was a third-generation
Christian, a disciple of Polycarp, disciple of the Apostle John. Born
between 130 and 140 and dying sometime after 200, he lived early
enough to see the four Gospels become part of the biblical canon. His
proximity to the original Apostles makes Irenaeus an invaluable window
for Christians interested in the early Church.
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http://www.orthodoxvillage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7574&sid=334f217938a344b6f1dd72f837003d0f
Orthodox Village ::
Saint Irenaeus of Lyons - God's Advent
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http://www.monachos.net/library/Welcome_to_Monachos.net
The Monachos.net web site is dedicated to St Irenaeus of Lyons, one of
the Church's earliest theologians and heresiologists (defenders
against heresy), whose feast day is kept on 23 August / 5 September.
Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
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"Our Faith is in accord with the Eucharist, and the Eucharist confirms
our Faith"
St. Ireneus of Lyons
Borked Pseudo Mailed
din Roman, preot la o manastire din zona Poiana Teiului, se deplasa cu
autoturismul personal, Opel Kadet, pe ruta Poiana Teiului-Bicaz. In
masina se mai aflau patru persoane, rude cu soferul. La un moment dat,
preotul a adormit la volan, a pierdut controlul masinii, a intrat pe
contrasens si s-a izbit violent de parapetul de pe marginea soselei.
Trei dintre cei cinci pasageri, grav accidentati, au ajuns in spital,
dintre care unul, Ana Pantiru (46 de ani), a fost transportat la Clinica
de Neurochirurgie Iasi. In masina se mai afla un copil de un an
jumatate, care a scapat nevatamat, alaturi de preotul betiv.
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Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
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http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/irenaeus-book1.html
Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies / Adversus Haereses, Book 1
(Roberts-Donaldson translation)
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http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/irenaeus-book2.html
Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies / Adversus Haereses, Book 2
(Roberts-Donaldson translation)
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http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/irenaeus-book3.html
Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies / Adversus Haereses, Book 3
(Roberts-Donaldson translation)
Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
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http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/irenaeus-book4.html
Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies / Adversus Haereses, Book 4
(Roberts-Donaldson translation)
George Orwell
Il mittente di questo messaggio|The sender address of this
non corrisponde ad un utente |message is not related to a real
reale ma all'indirizzo fittizio|person but to a fake address of an
di un sistema anonimizzatore |anonymous system
Per maggiori informazioni |For more info
https://www.mixmaster.it
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http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/irenaeus-book5.html
Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies / Adversus Haereses, Book 5
(Roberts-Donaldson translation)
Borked Pseudo Mailed
Preotul Ion Andreoiu, din orasul Bumbesti-Jiu, judetul Gorj, este si un
prosper om de afaceri. Impreuna cu sotia, are un bar si un magazin care
ii aduc venituri destul de consistente, o casa frumoasa, cu magazin la
parter, si o vila in constructie, la subsolul careia se afla un bar si
un bordel. El slujeste la o biserica din lemn si carton, singura
deocamdata din oras, in care se inghesuie la sarbatori peste 7.000 de
enoriasi. Societatea Hidroconstructia se apropie de finalizarea
lucrarilor la o noua biserica unde fusese numit preot paroh tot Ion
Andreoiu. Exista preoti care desfasoara o activitatea necompatibila cu
statutul de preot.
Preoteasa Ioana Andreoiu minte ca sotul ei nu se ocupa de afaceri:
Singura ma ocup de toate activitatile comerciale. S-a ocupat si el la
inceput, dar putin timp, pina cind mi-am luat permisul de conducere. El
nu se implica in afaceri, ci creste flori. Cred ca are peste 7.000 de
cactusi?.
Anonymous Sender
Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
Sf. Irineu