Η Αγία Ειρήνη Χρυσοβαλάντου - St. Irene Chrysovalantou

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1 STS. CONSTANTINE & HELEN GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL OF BROOKLYN ΚΑΘΕΔΡΙΚΟΣ ΝΑΟΣ ΑΓΙΩΝ ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΕΛΕΝΗΣ 64 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn, New York Telephone: (718) Fax Telephone: (718) ************************************************************************* Fourth Tone-5th Morning Gospel /Ήχος Δ - Εωθινόν Ε Η Αγία Ειρήνη Χρυσοβαλάντου - St. Irene Chrysovalantou Saint Irene was the daughter of a wealthy family from Cappadocia, and was born in the ninth century. After the death of her husband Theophilus, the empress Theodora ruled the Byzantine Empire as regent for her young son Michael. St Theodora (February 11) helped to defeat the iconoclast heresy, and to restore the holy icons. We commemorate this Triumph of Orthodoxy on the first Sunday of Great Lent. When Michael was twelve years of age, St Theodora sent messengers throughout the Empire to find a suitably virtuous and refined girl to be his wife. St Irene was chosen, and she agreed to the marriage. While passing Mt. Olympus in Asia Minor, Irene asked to stop so she could receive the blessing of St Joannicius (November 4), who lived on the mountain. The saint, who showed himself only to the most worthy pilgrims, foresaw the arrival of St Irene, and also her future life. The holy ascetic welcomed her and told her to proceed to Constantinople, where the women s monastery of Chrysovalantou had need of her. Amazed at his clairvoyance, Irene fell to the ground and asked St Joannicius for his blessing. After blessing her and giving her spiritual counsel, he sent her on her way. When the party arrived in Constantinople, Irene s relatives met her with great ceremony. Since the steps of a man are rightly ordered by the Lord (Ps. 36/37:23), God arranged for Michael to marry another girl a few days before, so that Irene might be free to become a bride of Christ. Far from being disappointed, Irene rejoiced at this turn of events. Remembering the words of St Joannicius, Irene visited the Monastery of Chrysovalantou. She was so impressed by the nuns and their way of life that she freed her slaves and distributed her wealth to the poor. She exchanged her fine clothing for the simple garb of a nun, and served the sisters with great humility and obedience. The abbess was impressed with the way that Irene performed the most menial and disagreeable tasks without complaint. St Irene often read the Lives of the Saints in her cell, imitating their virtues to the best of her ability. She often stood in prayer all night with her hands raised like Moses on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 17:11-13). St Irene spent the next few years in spiritual struggles defeating the assaults of the demons, and bringing forth the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). When the abbess sensed the approach of death, she told the other nuns that they should not accept anyone but Irene as the new abbess. Irene was not told of the abbess s instructions, and when she died the community sent representatives to go and seek the advice of the patriarch, St Methodius (June 14). He asked them whom they wanted as their superior. They replied that they believed he would be guided by the Holy Spirit. Without knowing of the late abbess s instructions to the nuns, he asked if there was a humble nun by the name of Irene in their monastery. If so, he said, they should choose her. The nuns rejoiced and gave thanks to God. St Methodius elevated Irene to the rank of abbess and advised her how to guide those in her charge. Returning to the monastery, Irene prayed that God would help her to care for those under her, and redoubled her own spiritual efforts. She displayed great wisdom in leading the nuns, and received many revelations from God to assist her in carrying out her duties. She also asked for the gift of clairvoyance so that she would know what trials awaited her nuns. Thus, she was in a better position to give them the proper advice. She never used this knowledge to embarrass others, but only to correct their confessions in a way which let them know that she possessed certain spiritual gifts Continued on page 4

2 Κυριακή 28 Ιουλίου, 2013 Τῶν Ἁγίων Ἀποστόλων καί Διακόνων Προχόρου, Νικάνορος, Τίμωνος καί Παρμενᾶ. Τῆς Ὁσίας Μητρός ἡμῶν Εἰρήνης τῆς Χρυσοβαλάντου καί τοῦ Ὁσίου Πατρός ἡμῶν Παύλου τοῦ Ξηροποταμηνοῦ. Sunday July 28, 2013 Prochoros, Nicanor, Timon, & Parmenas the Apostles of the 70 Irene the Righteous of Chrysovalantou Our Righteous Father Paul of Xeropotamos ς Δ Τὸ φαιδρὸν τῆς Ἀναστάσεως κήρυγμα, ἐκ τοῦ Ἀγγέλου μαθοῦσαι αἱ τοῦ Κυρίου Μαθήτριαι, καὶ τὴν προγονικὴν ἀπόφασιν ἀπορρίψασαι, τοῖς Ἀποστόλοις καυχώμεναι ἔλεγον Ἐσκύλευται ὁ θάνατος, ἠγέρθη Χριστὸς ὁ Θεός, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος Επί τού όρους μετεμορφώθης, καί ως εχώρουν οι Μαθηταί σου τήν δόξαν σου, Χριστέ ο Θεός ε- θεάσαντο, ίνα όταν σε ίδωσι σταυρούμενον, τό μέν πάθος νοήσωσιν εκούσιον, τώ δέ κόσμω κηρύξωσιν, ότι σύ υπάρχεις αληθώς, τού Πατρός τό απαύγασμα. Ressurectional Apolytikion 4th Tone Having learned the joyful proclamation of the Resurrection from the Angel, and having cast off the ancestral condemnation, the women disciples of the Lord spake to the Apostles exultantly: Death is despoiled and Christ God is risen, granting great mercy to the world. Apolytikion of Sts. Constantine and Helen Having seen the image of Thy Cross in Heaven, and like Paul, having received the call not from men, Thine apostle among kings entrusted the commonwealth to Thy hand, O Lord. Keep us always in peace, by the intercessions of the Theotokos, O only Friend of man. Apolytikion of St. Nicholas, The truth of things hath revealed thee to thy flock as a rule of faith, an icon of meekness, and a teacher of temperance; for this cause, thou hast achieved the heights by humility, riches by poverty. O Father and Hierarch Nicholas, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved. Kontakion You were transfigured upon the mount, O Christ our God, and Your disciples, in so far as they could bear, beheld Your glory. Thus, when they see You crucified, they may understand Your voluntary passion, and proclaim to the world that You are truly the effulgence of the Father.

3 Η Αγία Ειρήνη Χρυσοβαλάντου Στις 28 Ιουλίου η αγία Εκκλησία μας τιμά τη «μνήμη της οσίας Μητρός ημών Ειρήνης της εκ Καππαδοκίας, ασκησάσης εν τη Μονή Χρυσοβαλάντου». Η οσία Ειρήνη έζησε κατά τον 9ο και 10ο αιώνα και η νεότητά της συνδέεται με τη βασιλική αυλή του αυτοκράτορα του Βυζαντίου, την περίοδο πού είχε λήξει η εικονομαχία και αναστηλωθεί οι ιερές εικόνες μετά το θρίαμβο της Ορθοδοξίας (843).Ο Φιλάρετος, που ήταν ευνοούμενος και αφοσιωμένος στρατηγός στο Θεόφιλο και τη Θεοδώρα (η οποία ανέλαβε το βασιλικό θρόνο μέχρι την ενηλικίωση του γιού της), είχε στην Καππαδοκία δύο κόρες, την Καλλίνικη και την Ειρήνη. Μετά τον πρόωρο θάνατο της γυναίκας του Ζωής, την επιμέλεια της ανατροφής τους είχε αναλάβει η αδελφή του και θεία τους Σοφία, πού αφοσιώθηκε στο έργο αυτό με όλη την ψυχή της. Στο μοναστήρι Χρυσοβαλάντου Καθώς πήγαινε στην Κωνσταντινούπολη για να είναι μία από τις υποψήφιες νύφες του αυτοκράτορα, επισκέφτηκε έναν άγιο άνθρωπο τον Ιωαννίκιο. Οποίος την αποκάλεσε με το όνομα της και την προέτρεψε να μην πάει στην Κωνσταντινούπολη αλλά να πάει στη Μονή Χρυσοβαλάντου που την χρειάζεται.ακολουθώντας την πρόρρηση του Γέροντος Ιωαννικίου δεν άργησε να πορευθεί προς τη Μονή. Η ηγουμένη τη δέχθηκε με καλοσύνη και αγάπη και την έθεσε κάτω από τη δική της πνευματική επίβλεψη. Η Ειρήνη, παρά την ευγενική καταγωγή της, έχοντας τη χάρη του Θεού, με προθυμία επιδόθηκε και στα πιο ταπεινά και δύσκολα διακονήματα και σύντομα ο αγώνας της καρποφόρησε. Αναδεικνύεται ηγουμένη με τρόπο θαυμαστό.ύστερα από μερικά χρόνια αρρώστησε η ηγουμένη. Επιθυμία της Γερόντισσας ήταν να γίνει ηγουμένη η Ειρήνη. Όταν είπε στις μοναχές την επιθυμία της, η Ειρήνη δεν ήταν παρούσα. Εκείνες μάλιστα δεν της ανέφεραν τίποτε σχετικό, επειδή φοβήθηκαν μήπως από τη μεγάλη ταπεινοφροσύνη της φύγει από το μοναστήρι, για να μη γίνει ηγουμένη. Οι ηλικιωμένες μοναχές πρότειναν να πάνε όλες μαζί στον Πατριάρχη, στην Κωνσταντινούπολη, για να επιλέξει αυτός οποία τον φωτίσει ο εός. Φτάνοντας στον Πατριάρχη τους είπε: «Εγώ γνωρίζω ότι όλες σας θέλετε την τιμία και σεμνοτάτη Ειρήνη και η απόφασή σας είναι καλή και θεάρεστη. Ας είναι δοξασμένος ο Κύριος πού μου φανέρωσε την αρετή αυτής της δούλης του». Έτσι όρισε την Ειρήνη ηγουμένη της Μονής. Καθοδηγεί τις μοναχές με σύνεση και σοφία Ως ηγουμένη η Ειρήνη συνέχισε και επέτεινε τους πνευματικούς της αγώνες, συναισθανόμενη την ευθύνη του διακονήματος πού έθεσε στους ώμους της ο Ιησούς Χριστός. Προσευχόταν και νήστευε ακόμα περισσότερο. Ήταν τόση η επιθυμία της να σωθούν όλες οι μοναχές, πού τόλμησε από αγάπη υπέρμετρη και όχι εγωισμό να ζητήσει από τον Κύριο να της χορηγήσει το προορατικό χάρισμα, για να γνωρίζει «τα απόκρυφα πταίσματα πασών των αδελφών... διά να τάς διορθώνη, να μη κολάζωνται». Και ο δωρεοδότης Ιησούς Χριστός, βλέποντας ότι ο σκοπός της ήταν καλός, της έστειλε άγγελο πού της αποκάλυψε ότι προστάχθηκε από τον Κύριο να στέκεται πάντοτε πλησίον της και να της φανερώνει κάθε μέρα τα απόκρυφα παραπτώματα όχι μόνο των μοναχών αλλά και των προσκυνητών της Μονής.Η φήμη του προορατικού της χαρίσματος δεν άργησε να διαδοθεί και να φτάσει μέχρι την Κωνσταντινούπολη, με αποτέλεσμα πολλοί χριστιανοί να σπεύδουν στο μοναστήρι για να ιδούν το σεβάσμιο πρόσωπο της και να ακούσουν «λόγον ἀγαθόν». Παρά ταύτα εκείνη δεν μείωσε καθόλου τον πνευματικό της αγώνα για την προσωπική τελείωσή της, γεγονός πού ενοχλούσε τον μισόκαλο δαίμονα, πού δοκίμασε άλλη μια φορά να την εμποδίσει από την ολονύχτια προσευχή της. Έτσι λοιπόν ένα βράδυ, καθώς εκείνη προσευχόταν με κατάνυξη, ένας δαίμονας άναψε κερί από το καντήλι και έβαλε φωτιά στο κουκούλι της Ειρήνης. Η φλόγα άρχισε να καίει κατόπιν τα μαλλιά, το φόρεμα και τις σάρκες της αγίας Ειρήνης, η οποία ακίνητη, ενώ καιγόταν, συνέχιζε την προσευχή της. Και θα είχε καεί ζωντανή, αν μία αδελφή από διπλανό κελί δεν οσμιζόταν καμένη σάρκα και δεν έτρεχε να σβήσει με νερό τη φωτιά! Η ηγουμένη την επέπληξε λέγοντάς της, όπως αναφέρει ο Συναξαριστής: «Γιατί μού προξένησες, παιδί μου, τόσο κακό και μού στέρησες τέτοια αγαθά; Δεν πρέπει να φρονούμε τα των ανθρώπων αλλά τα του Θεού. Λίγο πριν μπροστά μου έβλεπα έναν άγγελο πού έπλεκε για μένα στεφάνι κι όταν άπλωνε το χέρι του για να με στεφανώσει, ήρθες εσύ και από ευγνωμοσύνη προκάλεσες χειρότερα της αγνωμοσύνης. Βλέποντάς σε ο άγγελος έφυγε και μού έδωσες λύπη και απερίγραπτη ζημία». Από το μισοκαμμένο σώμα της έβγαινε ευωδία πού νικούσε όλα τα μύρα και τα πολύτιμα αρώματα, ενώ ο Ιησούς, ο ιατρός των ψυχών και των σωμάτων, γιάτρεψε τα μέλη της πού είχαν εγκαύματα, αυξάνοντας της και το προορατικό χάρισμα. Ἀπολυτίκιον Βασιλείας γήινους πάλαι οὐκ ἔτυχες, ἀλλ ἀφθάρτων στεφάνων νῦν σέ ἠξίωσεν, ὁ Νυμφίος σου Χριστός ὁ ὡραιότατος ὤ καθιέρωσας σαυτήν, ὅλη καρδία καί ψυχή, Εἰρήνη Ὁσία Μῆτερ, Χρυσοβαλάντου ἡ δόξα,

4 100th Year Anniversary of Sts. Constantine and Helen Cathedral and 50th Year Anniversary of A. Fantis Parochial School Anniversary Gala Saturday, November 9, :00pm Stage 6 at Steiner Studios 15 Washington Ave Brooklyn Navy Yard, NY Music by: Yiannis Papastefanou and Come celebrate this significant milestone of our Cathedral and of our School while catching up with old friends and dancing the night away! *** To commemorate this historic year we are preparing a For more information call

5 Προς Ρωμαίους Επιστολής Παύλου το Ανάγνωσμα Ἀδελφοί, ἡ μὲν εὐδοκία τῆς ἐμῆς καρδίας καὶ ἡ δέησις ἡ πρὸς τὸν θεὸν ὑπὲρ τοῦ Ἰσραήλ ἐστιν εἰς σωτηρίαν. Μαρτυρῶ γὰρ αὐτοῖς ὅτι ζῆλον θεοῦ ἔχουσιν, ἀλλʼ οὐ κατʼ ἐπίγνωσιν. Ἀγνοοῦντες γὰρ τὴν τοῦ θεοῦ δικαιοσύνην, καὶ τὴν ἰδίαν δικαιοσύνην ζητοῦντες στῆσαι, τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ τοῦ θεοῦ οὐχ ὑπετάγησαν. Τέλος γὰρ νόμου Χριστὸς εἰς δικαιοσύνην παντὶ τῷ πιστεύοντι. Μωϋσῆς γὰρ γράφει τὴν δικαιοσύνην τὴν ἐκ τοῦ νόμου, ὅτι ὁ ποιήσας αὐτὰ ἄνθρωπος ζήσεται ἐν αὐτοῖς. Ἡ δὲ ἐκ πίστεως δικαιοσύνη οὕτως λέγει, Μὴ εἴπῃς ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου, Τίς ἀναβήσεται εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν; - τοῦτʼ ἔστιν Χριστὸν καταγαγεῖν - ἤ, Τίς καταβήσεται εἰς τὴν ἄβυσσον; - τοῦτʼ ἔστιν Χριστὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν ἀναγαγεῖν. Ἀλλὰ τί λέγει; Ἐγγύς σου τὸ ῥῆμά ἐστιν, ἐν τῷ στόματί σου καὶ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου τοῦτʼ ἔστιν τὸ ῥῆμα τῆς πίστεως ὃ κηρύσσομεν ὅτι ἐὰν ὁμολογήσῃς ἐν τῷ στόματί σου κύριον Ἰησοῦν, καὶ πιστεύσῃς ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου ὅτι ὁ θεὸς αὐτὸν ἤγειρεν ἐκ νεκρῶν, σωθήσῃ καρδίᾳ γὰρ πιστεύεται εἰς δικαιοσύνην, στόματι δὲ ὁμολογεῖται εἰς σωτηρίαν. The Reading is According to St. Paul s Letter to the Romans BRETHREN, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened. For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law, that every one who has faith may be justified. Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on the law shall live by it. But the righteousness based on faith says, Do not say in your heart, "Who will ascend into heaven?" (that is, to bring Christ down) or "Who will descend into the abyss?" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach); because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved. ********************************************************************************************** Κατὰ Ματθαῖον , 9.1 Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἐλθόντος τῷ Ἰησοῦ εἰς τὸ πέραν εἰς τὴν χώραν τῶν Γεργεσηνῶν ὑπήντησαν αὐτῷ δύο δαιμονιζόμενοι ἐκ τῶν μνημείων ἐξερχόμενοι, χαλεποὶ λίαν, ὥστε μὴ ἰσχύειν τινὰ παρελθεῖν διὰ τῆς ὁδοῦ ἐκείνης.καὶ ἰδοὺ ἔκραξαν λέγοντες τί ἡμῖν καὶ σοί, Ιησοῦ υἱὲ τοῦ Θεοῦ; ἦλθες ὧδε πρὸ καιροῦ βασανίσαι ἡμᾶς;ἦν δὲ μακρὰν ἀπ αὐτῶν ἀγέλη χοίρων πολλῶν βοσκομένη.οἱ δὲ δαίμονες παρεκάλουν αὐτὸν λέγοντες εἰ ἐκβάλλεις ἡμᾶς, ἐπίτρεψον ἡμῖν ἀπελθεῖν εἰς τὴν ἀγέλην τῶν χοίρων.καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὑπάγετε. οἱ δὲ ἐξελθόντες ἀπῆλθον εἰς τὴν ἀγέλην τῶν χοίρων καὶ ἰδοὺ ὥρμησε πᾶσα ἡ ἀγέλη τῶν χοίρων κατὰ τοῦ κρημνοῦ εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν καὶ ἀπέθανον ἐν τοῖς ὕδασιν.οἱ δὲ βόσκοντες ἔφυγον, καὶ ἀπελθόντες εἰς τὴν πόλιν ἀπήγγειλαν πάντα καὶ τὰ τῶν δαιμονιζομένων.καὶ ἰδοὺ πᾶσα ἡ πόλις ἐξῆλθεν εἰς συνάντησιν τῷ Ιησοῦ, καὶ ἰδόντες αὐτὸν παρεκάλεσαν ὅπως μεταβῇ ἀπὸ τῶν ὁρίων αὐτῶν. Καὶ ἐμβὰς εἰς πλοῖον διεπέρασε καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς τὴν ἰδίαν πόλιν. The Gospel of Matthew 8:28-34; 9:1 At that time, when Jesus came to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, two demoniacs met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one would pass that way. And behold, they cried out, "What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?" Now a herd of many swine was feeding at some distance from them. And the demons begged him, "If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of swine." And he said to them, "Go." So they came out and went into the swine; and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and perished in the waters. The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, and what had happened to the demoniacs. And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighborhood. And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city.

6 Καθημερινές Ακολουθίες Πέμπτη 8/1 και Παρασκευή 8/2 Παράκληση- 7μμ Σημαντικές Ημερομηνίες 5 Αυγούστου - Ο Μέγας Εσπερινός της Μεταμορφώσεως στην Μεταμόρφωση (Κορόνα) ( th Street. Corona, N.Y.) 14 Αυγούστου Ο Μέγας Εσπερινός της Κοιμήσεως της Θεοτόκου στην Κοίμηση (Μπρούκλυν) (224 18th Street, Brooklyn)-7:30μμ 15 Σεπτεμβρίου Πίκνικ της Κοινότητος για την αρχή του εκκλησιαστικού έτους μετά την Θεία Λειτουργία 22 Σεπτεμβρίου- Γεύμα Φιλοπτώχου στην αίθουσα της εκκλησίας μετά την Αρχιερατική Θεία Λειτουργία υπό του Σεβασμιωτάτου Μητροπολίτου Ατλάντας Αλέξιου 9 Νοεμβρίου- Χοροεσπερίδα των εκατόν χρόνων της κοινότητος στο Steiner Studios Weekday Services Thursday 8/1 Friday 8/2 Paraclesis to the Theotokos - at 7pm Important Dates August 5 The Great Vesper of the Transfiguration of Christ, at the church of the Transfiguration ( th Street. Corona, N.Y.) August 14 The Great Vesper of the Dormition of the Theotokos at Kimisi (224 18th Street, Brooklyn)-7:30pm September 15 Community Picnic for the beginning of the Ecclesiastical year following the Divine Liturgy September 22 Philoptochos Luncheon in the church hall after a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy officiated by His Eminence Metropolitan of Atlanta Alexios. November th Year Anniversary Gala at Steiner Studios. Although St Irene performed many miracles during her life, let us mention only one. On great Feasts it was her habit to keep vigil in the monastery courtyard under the starry skies. Once, a nun who was unable to sleep left her cell and went into the courtyard. There she saw Abbess Irene levitating a few feet above the ground, completely absorbed in prayer. The astonished nun also noticed that two cypress trees had bowed their heads to the ground, as if in homage. When she finished praying, Irene blessed the trees and they returned to their upright position. Afraid that this might be a temptation from the demons, the nun returned the next night to see if she had been mistaken. Again she saw Irene levitating as she prayed, and the cypress trees bowing down. The nun tied handkerchiefs to the tops of the two trees before they went back to their places. When the other sisters saw the handkerchiefs atop the trees, they began to wonder who had put them there. Then the nun who had witnessed these strange events revealed to the others what she had seen. When St Irene learned that the nun had witnessed the miracle and told the others, she was very upset. She warned them not to speak of it to anyone until after her death. St Irene observed the Feast of St Basil (January 1) with great devotion, since he also came from Cappadocia. One year, after celebrating the feast, St Irene heard a voice during the night telling her to welcome the sailor who would come to the door the next day. She was told to rejoice and eat the fruit which the sailor would bring her. During Matins, a sailor did come to the door and remained in church until after Liturgy. He told her that he had come from Patmos, where he boarded a ship. As the ship set sail, he noticed an old man on the shore calling for them to stop. In spite of a good wind, the ship came to a sudden halt. Then the old man walked across the water and entered the ship. He gave the sailor three apples which God was sending to the patriarch from His beloved disciple John. Then the old man gave the sailor three more apples for the abbess of Chrysovalantou. He told the sailor that if Irene ate the apples, all that her soul desired would be granted, for this gift comes from John in Paradise. St Irene fasted for a week, giving thanks to God for this wonderful gift. For forty days, she ate small pieces of the first apple every day. During this time she had nothing else to eat or drink. On Holy Thursday, she told the nuns to receive the Holy Mysteries, then gave each one a piece of the second apple. They noticed an unusual sweetness, and felt as if their very souls were being nourished. An angel informed St Irene that she would be called to the Lord on the day after St Panteleimon s feast. The monastery s feast day fell on July 26, so St Irene prepared by fasting for a week beforehand. She took only a little water and small pieces of the third apple sent to her by St John. The whole monastery was filled with a heavenly fragrance, and all discord disappeared. On July 28, St Irene called the nuns together in order to bid them farewell. She also told them to select Sister Mary as her successor, for she would keep them on the narrow way which leads to life (Matthew 7:14). After entreating God to protect her flock from the power of the devil, she smiled when she saw the angels who had been sent to receive her soul. Then she closed her eyes and surrendered her soul to God. St Irene was more than 101 years old when she died, yet her face appeared young and beautiful. A great crowd of people came for her funeral, and many miracles took place at her tomb. In some parishes it is customary to bless apples on the feast of St Irene Chrysovalantou.