Irenaeus of Lyon | |
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Doctor of the Church | |
Diocese | Lyon |
See | Lyon |
Predecessor | Pothinus |
Successor | Zechariah |
Orders | |
Ordination | by Polycarp |
Personal details | |
Born | c. 130 AD |
Died | c. 202 AD 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 |
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 and in the ancient Churches of the Christian East: 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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