Irenaeus of Lyon | |
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Doctor of the Church | |
![]() 20th-century Greek icon depicting Saint Irenaeus | |
Diocese | Lyon |
See | Lyon |
Predecessor | Pothinus |
Successor | Zechariah |
Orders | |
Ordination | by Polycarp |
Personal details | |
Born | c. 130 AD |
Died | c. 202 AD (aged c. 72) Lugdunum, Gallia Lugdunensis, Roman Empire |
Sainthood | |
Feast day | June 28 (Latin Catholic Church, Orthodox Church, Anglicanism); August 23 (Eastern Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches); Monday after fourth Sunday of the Exaltation of the Cross (Armenian Apostolic Church)[1] |
Venerated in | Latin Catholic Church and Eastern Catholicism Eastern Orthodox Church Oriental Orthodox Church Assyrian Church of the East Lutheranism Anglicanism |
Title as Saint | Bishop, Martyr, Bishop of Lyons, Doctor of the Church. |
Theology career | |
Notable work | Against Heresies |
Theological work | |
Era | Patristic Age |
Language | Greek |
Tradition or movement | Trinitarianism |
Main interests | Theodicy, millennialism |
Notable ideas | Irenaean theodicy Recapitulation theory of atonement |
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Part of a series on |
Catholic philosophy |
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Irenaeus | |
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Influences | Clement, Ignatius,[2] Justin Martyr, Papias, Polycarp, The Shepherd of Hermas |
Influenced | Agapius, Augustine,[3] Basil the Great, Epiphanius, Hippolytus, Tertullian |
Part of a series on |
Theodicy |
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Irenaeus (/ɪrɪˈneɪəs/; Greek: Εἰρηναῖος, translit. Eirēnaîos; c. 130 – c. 202 AD)[4] was a Greek bishop noted for his role in guiding and expanding Christian communities in the southern regions of present-day France and, more widely, for the development of Christian theology by combating heterodox or Gnostic interpretations of Scripture as heresy and defining proto-orthodoxy. Originating from Smyrna, he had seen and heard the preaching of Polycarp,[5] who in turn was said to have heard John the Evangelist,[6] and thus was the last-known living connection with the Apostles.
Chosen as bishop of Lugdunum, now Lyon, his best-known work is Against Heresies, often cited as Adversus Haereses, a refutation of gnosticism, in particular that of Valentinus.[7] To counter the doctrines of the gnostic sects claiming secret wisdom, he offered three pillars of orthodoxy: the scriptures, the tradition handed down from the apostles, and the teaching of the apostles' successors.[7][8][9] He is the earliest surviving witness to regard all four of the now-canonical gospels as essential.[10]
Irenaeus is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Oriental Orthodox Churches, including the Assyrian Church of the East.
The Latin Catholic Church celebrates his memorial on 28 June.[11] Pope Francis declared Irenaeus the 37th Doctor of the Church on 21 January 2022.[12]
The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates Irenaeus, the feast being also on 23 August.
Irenaeus is honored in the Church of England and in the Episcopal Church on 28 June.[13][14]
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