St. Irene of Chrysovalantou
Jul 28th, 2008 by michelle
My daughter’s little friend, Myra Irene, celebrates her very first namesday today. Myra was born about three weeks after Grace (Grace turns one on Friday!).
Originally slated to wed the Emperor, St Irene went to the monastery of Chrysovalantou, and immediately engaged herself in vigils and prayer. She then replaced the Abbess very early on, and increased her spiritual struggles, with great trust in God to guide the community properly. She developed the gifts of foresight and exorcism. Her prayer through the night continued in the courtyard of the monastery, and caused herself to levitate and the cypress trees to bend towards her. She was granted three apples from St John the Theologian, visions of angels, and appeared in a vision to the Emperor to release an unjustly convicted man. After her death at 102 years, she continued to be a wonderworker.
Countless miracles surround St. Irene. First of these was the smell, the same present at the funeral, which continued at the saint’s grave for years. Countless miracles occur at the site, and many prayers for St. Irene’s intercessions are continually answered. One such series of miracles is for mothers who are unable to conceive: after asking for St. Irene’s intercessions, often a child is born, and the parents will name their child Chrysovalanti or Chrysovalantou.
Happy Name’s day to Myra Irene and Many Years!
Holy St. Irene, pray to God for us