Commemoration of Irenaeus of Lyons, Pastor
June 28, 2012
The Lord be with you
June 28 has been set aside on our liturgical calendars to
remember Irenaeus of Lyons. His name means “peace,” and the English word irenic
comes from the same Greek word as his name. He lived from around 130 to 200 AD and is believed to be a native of Smyrna
(modern Izmir, Turkey).
He studied in Rome and later became
pastor in Lyons, France.
Lyons in the second century was an
important commercial city, the seat of a garrison and headquarters for three
provinces, a gateway between the Mediterranean world and the provinces north of
the Alps. Like Rome,
Lyons had a large Greek-speaking
element in its population, and it was among this group that Christianity was
first established.
During the Montanist controversy (the Montanists were an
apocalyptic party that expected the immediate outpouring of the Holy Spirit),
Irenaeus was sent as an envoy to Rome
by the Christians at Lyons. In his
absence, a fierce persecution of Christians led to the martyrdom of their
bishop. Upon Irenaeus’s return (around 177 AD),
he became the second bishop of Lyons.
Little is know of his later years, including how he died.
Among his most famous writings is a work condemning
heresies, especially Gnosticism, which denied the goodness of creation. In
opposition, Irenaeus confessed that God has redeemed his creation through the
incarnation of the Son. Irenaeus also affirmed the teachings of the Scriptures
handed down to and through him as being normative for the Church. This defense
against heretics with novel ideas provided by some sort of “special” knowledge
remains the bulwark of the Church today. The Bible is our Faith’s solid
foundation. Because Irenaeus provided lengthy quotes from the heretics he
opposed and whose works would otherwise have been lost, we have a much clearer
understanding of what they believed. He also provides us a clear witness to the
New Testament books that were received in his day and age. They are the same we
have today. He clearly taught that “the ground and pillar of our faith” is the
Scriptures “handed down to us” “by the will of God.” Unlike many of his
contemporaries, Irenaeus was raised in a Christian home, taught and probably
baptized as an infant by Polycarp (see February 23). Polycarp was a student of
the Apostle John.
Prayer: Almighty
God, You upheld Your servant Irenaeus with strength to maintain the truth and
to bring peace to Your Church: Keep us, we pray, steadfast in Your true
religion, that in constancy and peace we may walk in the way that leads to
eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and
the Holy Spirit, one God, now and Forever. Amen.
Appropriate Prayers:
- For peace in the world
- For peace in the church
- For a renewed appreciation of the apostolic tradition
- For church leaders who guard and defend the apostolic faith
- Thanksgiving for the Bible
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor John Rickert
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