Saint Irene of Lecce

Saint Irene of Lecce, also known as Erina or Eiréne, was the daughter of a wealthy pagan named Licinius. She was born in an unknown time and place. However, later retellings of her story provide additional details that connect her to various locations, increase the number of pagans she converted, and link her to numerous miracles. Irene's father, Licinius, considered her to be incredibly beautiful and desired her as a valuable bride. To prevent her from marrying anyone else, Licinius locked Irene in a tower and placed thirteen guards to keep her isolated. During her time in the tower, Irene received direct instruction in Christianity from God. At some point, Saint Timothy came to Irene and baptized her, solidifying her commitment to the Christian faith. When Licinius tried to sway her towards paganism by bringing idols for her to worship, Irene would deliberately smash them as a sign of her devotion to the one true God. Enraged by Irene's refusal to abandon her Christian beliefs, Licinius decided to punish her by tying her to a horse, hoping that it would drag her to her death. Miraculously, Irene remained unharmed, but the horse bit Licinius during this ordeal, causing him to sustain a severe injury that eventually led to his death. However, despite his tragic fate, Irene did not harbor any resentment towards her father and instead prayed for his well-being. Through her prayers, Irene's father was miraculously revived and converted to Christianity. Now united in their faith, both father and daughter dedicated themselves to spreading the teachings of Christianity. They became successful evangelists, converting thousands of pagans to the Christian faith. However, their evangelistic efforts attracted the attention and wrath of the anti-Christian governor Ampelio. He captured Irene, imprisoned her, and subjected her to various forms of torture, hoping that she would renounce her faith. Despite the intensity of her suffering, Irene remained steadfast in her beliefs and refused to renounce Christianity. Eventually, Irene was martyred for her faith, being beheaded. The exact date of her death is unknown. She was recognized as a saint even before the formal establishment of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, during the period known as the Pre-Congregation. Throughout history, Saint Irene of Lecce has been venerated as a powerful intercessor and a symbol of unwavering faith. Churches dedicated to her have existed in Constantinople since the 5th century. She is regarded as the patron saint of Altamura, Italy. Saint Irene's story, while initially lacking details about the time and place of her existence, underwent adaptations and embellishments over time. These retellings situated her martyrdom in Persia, coinciding with the birth of Emperor Constantine the Great.