Irenaeus, Saint

Irenaeus, Saint (īrĭnē`əs), c.125–c.202, Greek theologian, bishop of Lyons, and one of the Fathers of the Church. Born in Asia Minor, he was a disciple of St. Polycarp. Irenaeus went to Rome to plead for leniency toward the Montanists (see Montanism) and for those Eastern Christians who were threatened with excommunication because they did not observe the Roman date for Easter. He remained in the West and died in Gaul. Irenaeus was the earliest Father of the Church to systematize those Christian beliefs that would later be accepted as orthodox doctrine and is cited frequently by later theologians. Only two of his works survive—neither in the original Greek. The five-volume Against Heresies establishes Christian doctrine against the Gnostics and incidentally supplies much information on Gnosticism. The Epideixix is a concise exposition of Christian doctrine (tr. by J. P. Smith, Proof of the Apostolic Preaching, 1952). Feast: June 28.

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Irenaeus, Saint

(born c. 120/140, Asia Minor—died c. 200/203, probably Lyon; Western feast day June 28; Eastern feast day August 23) Bishop and theologian. Born of Greek parents, he was a missionary to Gaul before being named bishop of Lugdunum (modern Lyon, France). All his major works, including Against Heresies, were written in opposition to Gnosticism. To counteract Gnostic influence, he promoted the development of an authoritative canon of the New Testament. His defense of the belief that the Christian God and the God of the Old Testament were identical led to the development of the Apostles' Creed. His writings against the Gnostics also supported the authority of the bishops, and he claimed that the bishops of various cities were known as far back as the Apostles (see apostolic succession). His works have proved a valuable source of information on the Gnostics, because he gave accurate summaries of their beliefs before refuting them.