Historical Figures Codexery

Irenaeus

Second-century Greek bishop, defender of orthodoxy against Gnosticism, and author of Against Heresies.

Irenaeus was a second-century Greek bishop who served in what is now southern France and developed Christian theology by opposing Gnostic interpretations of Scripture.[1] His best-known work, Against Heresies, written around 180, refuted gnosticism and argued for the unity of God and the authenticity of apostolic tradition.[2][3] On 21 January 2022, Pope Francis conferred upon Irenaeus the title of Doctor of the Church, also bestowing the supplementary designation "Doctor of Unity".[4][5][6]

Quick Facts

Born
before c. 155 AD
Died
after c. 191 AD
Predecessor
Pothinus
Successor
Zechariah
Diocese
Lyon
Birthplace
Smyrna, Asia, Roman Empire
Place of death
Lugdunum, Gallia Lugdunensis, Roman Empire

Facts from the source article.

Life and work

After the persecution, the new bishop divided his activities between pastoral duties and missionary work.[7] Irenaeus encountered Gnostic writings and held conversations with Gnostics, possibly in Anatolia or Rome, and noted followers of Marcus the Magician in the Rhone valley.[7] During the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius (161–180), a persecution of Christians occurred in Lyon, where Irenaeus served as a priest.[8] The Lyon persecution happened while Irenaeus was in Rome; after his return to Gaul, he replaced the martyred Saint Pothinus as Lyon's second bishop.[9]

The bulk of Irenaeus's literary output targeted Gnosticism, his most renowned work being On the Detection and Overthrow of the So-Called Gnosis, commonly referred to as Against Heresies.[7]

What the cited sources add

A 2022 Vatican decree describes Irenaeus as a spiritual and theological bridge between Eastern and Western Christians.[10][11] The pope stated that Irenaeus' life and teachings served as a bridge between Eastern and Western Christians.[6] Cardinal Marcello Semeraro asked the pope to confer the title after an affirmative opinion from congregation members.[6] Irenaeus is the second doctor of the church named by Pope Francis, bringing the total number to 37.[6]

The National Catholic Reporter notes Irenaeus was born in Smyrna, Asia Minor, and was known as a staunch defender of the faith.[6] On 21 January 2022, Pope Francis officially declared Irenaeus a doctor of the church, granting him the additional title "doctor of unity".[6]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "Irenaeus" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Poncelet 1910; Eusebius 1890, p. [https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/250105.htm Book V Chapter 5]; Poncelet 1910 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  2. Wikipedia, "Irenaeus" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Cross Livingstone 2005, p. 852; Cross Livingstone 2005, p. 852; Durant 1972, p. ; Wingren n.d.; Brown 1997, p. 14 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  3. Wikipedia, "Irenaeus" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: McDonald Sanders 2001, p. 277; Epid. 1.5. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  4. Wikipedia, "Irenaeus" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Francis, "Decree of the Holy Father for the conferral of the title of Doctor of the Church on Saint Irenaeus of Lyon", The Vatican Press Agency, 21 January 2022 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  5. Wikipedia, "Irenaeus" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Calendarium Romanum", Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1969, p. 96; "Decreto del Santo Padre per il conferimento del titolo di Dottore della Chiesa a Sant'Ireneo di Lione", Press.vatican.va, 2022-01-21; Junno Arocho Esteves, "Pope declares St. Irenaeus a doctor of the church", National Catholic Reporter, 21 January 2022 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  6. Junno Arocho Esteves, "Pope declares St. Irenaeus a doctor of the church", National Catholic Reporter, 21 January 2022. facts only, no text reused. ncronline.org
  7. Wikipedia, "Irenaeus" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Irenaeus 1885, p. [https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103102.htm Book I, Chapter 2]; Irenaeus 1885, p. [https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103102.htm Book I, Chapter 2]; Irenaeus 1885, p. [https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103102.htm Book I, Chapter 2] (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  8. Wikipedia, "Irenaeus" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Poncelet 1910 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  9. Wikipedia, "Irenaeus" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Eusebius 1890, p. [https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/250105.htm Book V Chapter 5] (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  10. Francis, "Decree of the Holy Father for the conferral of the title of Doctor of the Church on Saint Irenaeus of Lyon", The Vatican Press Agency, 21 January 2022. facts only, no text reused. press.vatican.va
  11. "Decreto del Santo Padre per il conferimento del titolo di Dottore della Chiesa a Sant'Ireneo di Lione", Press.vatican.va, 2022-01-21. facts only, no text reused. press.vatican.va

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Irenaeus (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

More in Notable Figures

Clement of AlexandriaAthanasius of AlexandriaGregory of NazianzusAmbroseCyril of AlexandriaBenedict of NursiaFrancis of AssisiJan HusFrancis XavierGrigori RasputinHuldrych ZwingliJohn Calvin

Elsewhere in Historical Figures

Robert Adam · Artists & ComposersWilliam Wallace · Rulers & LeadersAbraham Joshua Heschel · Religious FiguresRobert Lucas Jr. · Scientists & InventorsClint Eastwood · Writers & JournalistsJane Wyman · Writers & Journalists

Spotted an error? Know more?

Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced

Comments

Loading…
Open in the interactive codex →