April 3 + Saint Irene of Thessalonica

Saints Irene, Agape and Chionia were three sisters born in Thessalonica, in the Macedonia section in the northern part of modern day Greece. The name Irene means “peace” in Greek.

Around 304 AD, during a persecution of Christians by the Roman Emperor Diocletian, Irene and her sisters were brought before Dulcitius, the Governor of Macedonia, on a charge that they refused to eat meat which had been earlier offered as a sacrifice to the gods. He asked Agape and Chionia where they had developed this objection to such food and Chionia responded that she had learned it from her Lord Jesus Christ.

The three sisters were convicted of possessing the Scriptures despite the prohibition issued by Emperor Diocletian and for refusing food to be offered to the gods. Agape and Chionia were burned alive.

Following the martyrdom of her sisters, Irene was also ordered to deny the faith but she refused. She was sent to a house of prostitution, and when she was unmolested after being exposed naked and chained, she was executed.