Abba Ho PaterSources
St Irenaeus of Lyons
Bishop of Lyons
Εἰρηναῖος
Irenaeus, bishop of Lyons, heard Polycarp in his youth and wrote Against Heresies in reply to Gnosticism. He died about 202.
- Born
- between 120 and 140 (ANF)
- Died
- c. 202
- Feast
- 23 August · Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches keep 23 August; the West 28 June (Wikipedia). Not located in the Coptic Synaxarium.
- Era
- 2nd century
- See
- Lugdunum (Lyons), Gaul (Bishop)
Life
Irenaeus was born between 120 and 140, probably in or near Smyrna, and knew its bishop Polycarp in his youth [1][2]. He joined Pothinus at Lyons as a presbyter, was sent while still a presbyter with a letter from the martyrs of Lyons to Eleutherus, bishop of Rome, and succeeded Pothinus as bishop about 177 [1].
Under Eleutherus, between 182 and 188 according to ANF, he wrote Against Heresies, on the detection and overthrow of the so-called Gnosis, chiefly that of Valentinus [1][2]. He also wrote the Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching, an Armenian copy of which was found in 1904 [2].
He is supposed to have died about 202; ANF finds probably no real ground for Jerome's statement that he was martyred [1]. He was buried in the church of St John at Lyons, later renamed after him [2].
Where the sources disagree
Birth: between 120 and 140 (ANF), before c. 155 (Wikipedia EN), c. 130 (AR). Against Heresies: 182–188 (ANF), c. 180 (Wikipedia). Death: c. 202 (ANF, AR), unknown (EN). Martyrdom: asserted by Jerome and doubted by ANF, whose own opening essay nonetheless has him die in a massacre of 202.
Timeline
- 120–140Born, probably in Smyrna or near it; knows Polycarp in his youth.[1]
- c. 177As presbyter of Lyons carries the martyrs' letter to Eleutherus of Rome.[1]
- c. 177Succeeds Pothinus as bishop of Lyons.[1]
- 182–188Writes Against Heresies under Eleutherus.[1]
- c. 202Dies; Jerome's report of martyrdom is doubted.[1]
Works
- Against Heresies182–188 (ANF)
Words by topic
The Mystery of the Cross and the Unity of All in God
Apologist Fathers1
Topics cited in
Notes
Bibliography
- ANF-01, Introductory Note to Irenaeus Against Heresies — Standard English translation with introduction.
- Wikipedia (EN), Irenaeus — Cross-check.
- Wikipedia (AR), إيرينيئوس — Cross-check.