Many of our saints have the reputation of miracle workers, because they claimed to be gifted by God to perform miracles in His name. In the chorus of miraculous saints of our Church, a special place is held by Saint Irene, the so-called Chrysovalandou.
Was born in Cappadocia in 828 and there she lived her childhood and teenage years. In those years the emperor reigned Theophilus (829-843), who, as is known, was a fanatical iconoclast and persecutor of the Orthodox. Irene's father was called Filaretos, was of noble origin, patrician and held the office of his military commander Subject of Cappadocia, as favored and confidant of the pious Empress Theodora. Her mother's name was Zoe, she was a patrician and a very beautiful, virtuous and faithful woman, whom all Cappadocia admired. In addition to Irini, they also had another girl Kalliniki. After the birth of Irene, their mother Zoe died suddenly and Filaretos entrusted the upbringing of the children to the patrician Sophia, his older sister.
The 839 had arrived in Caesarea, on state affairs, the young brother of the empress Theodora, the Caesar Bardas. There he met the fourteen-year-old Kalliniki, whom he asked in marriage. Philaretos consented and it was carried out with great pomp, with the participation of the emperor Theophilus.
The 842, after the death of Theophilos, the pious Theodora, as guardian of her minor son Michael III (842-867), revoked the decrees of the iconoclastic emperors, ending the hundred-year iconoclastic feud. For this reason, he invited general Filaretos to Vasilevoussa, as well as other high officials to help her in consolidating Orthodoxy. When the final restoration of the Holy Icons took place (February 19, 843), he asked Philareto to give the fifteen-year-old beautiful and modest Irene as a wife to her son Michael III. He accepted and the general Victorious, her mother's brother, undertook to bring her to Constantinople.
The rumor that Irene would become empress spread throughout the East. While everyone rejoiced, only Irene was sad, because she had already made the decision to follow the solitary life. Nevertheless, she agreed to follow her uncle Nikephoros to Vasilevoussa, not to marry the emperor, but to say goodbye to her sister Killinike. But, in the meantime, Michael chose her as his wife Blessings to the Decapolitan. Irene heard the news with satisfaction, but not her people who aspired to see her as empress.
Her father on a mission to Adrianople met a noble young man Bright, son of the prefect Nikita, with whom he decided to marry Irene. But she rejected this marriage and informed her parents that she was determined to remain single. After her sudden illness and miraculous healing, her parents accepted her decision. Her father himself led her to Holy Congregational Monastery of the Grand Brigadiers Michael and Gabriel Chrysovalantou, near Constantinople, where it took its solitary shape.
Her spiritual progress was evident throughout the sisterhood. So after six years she became abbess of the Monastery. From her position she intensified her spiritual struggle, so that the signs of her sanctity were quickly seen. He acquired the gift of miracle-working. Many patients flocked to the Monastery to receive healing from the wishes of the holy abbess. It was also claimed with the
rare gift of insight. She could read the hearts of her submissive monks and those who came to the Monastery for spiritual help. He used to gather the nuns in the Catholic Church of the Monastery every morning and try to get out of them their passions and vices. He did the same with the pilgrims.
The saint sat on her knees at night outside her cell and prayed. One night a nun saw the two cypress trees in the courtyard bow down and worship her, while she was floating in the air! The miracle was told by the nun to the whole brotherhood. The nun spared the other night and tied handkerchiefs to the tops of the towering trees, at the moment they were bent, to confirm the miraculous event to those sisters who doubted her account.
The saint was primarily concerned with the terrible event of death, because that moment cements the human condition in eternity. That is why he constantly taught everyone their perpetual preparation, so that death would find them prepared. She herself was experiencing this anxiety in the most intense way and that is why she was in constant preparation, as if the next moment was her last!
When she understood her final end, she arranged all the pending affairs of the Monastery, appointed a new abbess and received communion of the Immaculate Mysteries, as the highest provision for eternal life. She recited the Symbol of Faith, as a token of her right faith. She gathered the sisters, asked for forgiveness and made the sign of the Cross, addressed a fervent prayer to Christ and calmly surrendered her holy soul to Him. He was 104 years old! The news spread far and wide. A multitude of people from Vasilevousa, led by the Patriarch, went to venerate her holy and sanctified remains and to accompany her to her last abode.
Her place in the hearts of believers is important and she is considered one of the most miraculous saints. It especially helps childless women to have children. Her memory is honored on July 28.
This was the noble Byzantine noblewoman, who exchanged worldly and perishable glory for the imperishable eternal life in Christ!
