# Martyrdom of Agape, Irene, Chione and Companions

- Author: Anonymous
- Latin title: *Μαρτύριον τῶν ἁγίων Ἀγάπης, Εἰρήνης καὶ Χιόνης*
- Date: 304 (1 April) (probable)
- Source: Rudolf Knopf, ed., Ausgewählte Märtyrerakten, 2nd ed. (Tübingen, 1913), no. 17, pp. 86–92 (OCR made for this site)

- Translation: Claude, from the original text, unless a passage says otherwise; each passage below gives the translator
- Work page: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-agapes-irenes-chionae/
- Passages: 8

## 0

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-agapes-irenes-chionae/0/#p-0
- Source: Knopf, 86
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Title of the account.

### Greek text

Μαρτύριον τῶν ἁγίων ᾿Αγάπης, Εἰρήνης καὶ Χιόνης

### English translation (Claude)

Martyrdom of the holy Agape, Irene, and Chione.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. pref. (Knopf, 86; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/martyrium-agapes-irenes-chionae/0).

## 1

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-agapes-irenes-chionae/0/#p-1
- Source: Knopf, 86
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Three women of Thessalonica flee persecution to a mountain to pray.

### Greek text

Ἐπὶ τῆς παρουσίας xal ἐπιφανείας τοῦ δεσπότου xai σωτῆρος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ὅσῳ πλείων ἣ χάρις τῶν πάλαι, τοσούτῳ μείζων ἡ νίκη τῶν ἁγίων. ἀντὶ γὰρ τῶν πολεμίων τῶν ὁρατῶν, ἀόρατοι ἐχϑροὶ νικῶνται, ἀφανεῖς δαιμόνων ὑποστάσεις πυρὶ παραδίδονται ὑπὸ γυναικῶν καϑαρῶν καὶ σεμνῶν, πνεύματος ἁγίου πληρουμένων. γυναῖκες γὰρ ἅγιαι τρεῖς ἔκ Θεσσαλονίκης ὁρμώμεναι πόλεως, τῆς ὑπὸ τοῦ πανσόφου Παύλου δοξαζομένης ἐπὶ πίστει καὶ ἀγάπῃ, λέγοντος" Ἔν παντὶ τόπῳ ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν ἣ πρὸς τὸν ϑεὸν ἐξελήλυϑεν, καὶ πάλιν περὶ τῆς φιλαδελφίας" Οὐ χρείαν ἔχετε γράφεσθαι ὑμῖν, αὐτοὶ γὰρ ὑμεῖς ϑεοδιδακτοί ἔστε εἰς τὸ ἀγαπᾶν ἀλλήλους, διωγμοῦ καταλαβόντος τοῦ κατὰ Μαξιμιανόν, καὶ αὗται ἑαυτὰς ταῖς ἀρεταῖς κοσμήσασαι καὶ τοῖς εὐαγγελικοῖς νόμοις πειϑόμεναι, καταλείπουσι μὲν τὴν πατρίδα καὶ γένος καὶ περιουσίαν καὶ κτῆσιν διὰ τὴν περὶ τὸν ϑεὸν ἀγάπην καὶ προσδοκίαν τῶν ἐπουρανίων ἀγαϑῶν, ἄξια τοῦ πατρὸς Ἀβραὰμ διαπραττόμεναι, καὶ φεύγουσι μὲν τοὺς διώκοντας, κατὰ τὴν ἐντολήν, καὶ καταλαμβάνουσιν ὄρος τι ὑψηλόν. κἀκεῖ ταῖς προσευχαῖς ἐσχόλαζον, καὶ τὸ μὲν σῶμα τῷ ὕψει τοῦ ὄρους προσῆπτον, τὴν δὲ ψυχὴν ἐν οὐρανοῖς εἶχον πολιτευομένην.

### English translation (Claude)

At the coming and appearing of our Master and Savior Jesus Christ, as much greater as grace is than the things of old, so much greater is the victory of the saints. For instead of visible enemies, invisible foes are conquered, and the unseen powers of demons are given over to fire by women pure and chaste, filled with the Holy Spirit. For three holy women came from the city of Thessalonica—the city honored by the all-wise Paul for its faith and love, when he says, “In every place your faith toward God has gone forth,” and again about brotherly love, “You have no need to have anyone write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.” When the persecution under Maximian overtook them, these women too, adorning themselves with virtues and obeying the laws of the Gospel, left their homeland, family, property, and possessions for love of God and expectation of the heavenly goods, doing deeds worthy of their father Abraham; and they fled from their persecutors, as the commandment says, and took refuge on a high mountain. There they gave themselves to prayer; and while their bodies clung to the height of the mountain, their souls lived as citizens in heaven.

### Scripture references

- 1 Thess 1:8: quotation, high confidence
- 1 Thess 4:9: quotation, high confidence
- Matt 10:23: allusion, medium confidence
- Phil 3:20: echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- 1 Thess 1:8; 4:9. For fleeing persecution cf. Matt 10:23; for citizenship in heaven, Phil 3:20.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 1 (Knopf, 86; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/martyrium-agapes-irenes-chionae/1).

## 2

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-agapes-irenes-chionae/0/#p-2
- Source: Knopf, 86
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The women are arrested; their names (snow, peace, love) are explained from Scripture.

### Greek text

Ἐκ τούτου τοίνυν τοῦ τόπου συλληφϑεῖσαι, προσάγονται τῷ διωγμίτῃ ἄρχοντι, ἵνα τὸ λεῖπον τῶν ἐντολῶν ἐπιτελέσασαι καὶ τὸ μέχρι ϑανάτου τὸν δεσπότην ἀγαπήσασαι, τὸν τῆς ἀφϑαρσίας ἄναδήσωνται στέφανον. τούτων τοίνυν ἡ μὲν καϑαρὸν καὶ λαμπρὸν τοῦ βαπτίσματος φυλάττουσα, κατὰ τὸν ὅσιον προφήτην τὸν λέγοντα· Πλυνεῖς με καὶ ὑπὲρ χιόνα λευκανθήσομαι, Χιόνη προσηγόρευται" ἡ δὲ τὴν δωρεὰν τοῦ σωτῆρος xai ϑεοῦ ἡμῶν ἐν ἑαυτῇ ἔχουσα καὶ πρὸς πάντας ἐπιδεικνυμένη, κατὰ τὴν ἁγίαν ῥῆσιν τὴν λέγουσαν: Εἰρήνην τὴν ἐμὴν δίδωμι ὑμῖν, Εἰρήνη παρὰ πάντων ἐκαλεῖτο" ἣ δὲ τὸ τέλειον μὲν τῆς παραγγελίας κεκτημένη, ἔχουσα τὴν περὶ ϑεὸν ἀγάπην ἐξ ὅλης καρδίας καὶ τὸν πλησίον ὡς ἑαυτήν, κατὰ τὸν ἅγιον ἀπόστολον τὸν λέγοντα" Τὸ δὲ τέλος τῆς παραγγελίας ἐστὶν ἀγάπη, φερωνύμως Ἀγάπη προσονομάζεται. ταύτας τὰς τρεῖς προσαχϑείσας αὐτῷ ὃ ἄρχων καὶ μὴ ϑελούσας ϑύειν πυρὶ κατέκρινεν, ἵνα διὰ πυρὸς προσκαίρου τοὺς αὐτῷ πειϑομένους νικήσασαι διάβολον καὶ πᾶσαν αὐτοῦ τὴν ὑπ᾽ οὐρανῶν δαιμόνων στρατιάν, τὸν ἀμαράντινον τῆς δόξης στέφανον ἄναδήσωνται καὶ μετ᾽ ἀγγέλων διὰ παντὸς δοξάσωσιν τὸν τὴν χάριν δωρησάμενον ϑεόν. τὰ δὲ πραχϑέντα περὶ αὐτῶν ὑπομνήματά ἔστιν τὰ ὑποτεταγμένα.

### English translation (Claude)

Arrested in this place, they were brought before the persecuting magistrate, so that, fulfilling what remained of the commandments and loving their Master even to death, they might bind on the crown of incorruption. Of these, the one who kept the purity and brightness of baptism, in keeping with the holy prophet who says, “You will wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow,” was named Chione; the one who had in herself the gift of our Savior and God and showed it to all, in keeping with the holy saying, “My peace I give to you,” was called Irene by everyone; and the one who possessed the perfection of the commandment, having love for God with her whole heart and for her neighbor as herself, in keeping with the holy apostle who says, “The goal of the commandment is love,” was fittingly named Agape. When these three were brought before him and refused to sacrifice, the magistrate condemned them to the fire, so that through a passing fire, having conquered the devil and all his army of demons under heaven, together with those who obey him, they might bind on the unfading crown of glory and with the angels forever glorify God who gave them this grace. The records of what was done concerning them are those set out below.

### Scripture references

- Ps 51:7 (50:9 LXX): quotation, high confidence
- John 14:27: quotation, high confidence
- 1 Tim 1:5: quotation, high confidence
- Matt 22:37: allusion, medium confidence
- 1 Pet 5:4: echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- Ps 51:7 (LXX 50:9); John 14:27; 1 Tim 1:5; Matt 22:37–39. The names mean “snow” (Chione), “peace” (Irene), and “love” (Agape).

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 2 (Knopf, 86; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/martyrium-agapes-irenes-chionae/2).

## 3

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-agapes-irenes-chionae/0/#p-3
- Source: Knopf, 86
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: The first hearing: seven Christians refuse sacrificial meat; Eutychia, pregnant, is remanded.

### Greek text

Προκαϑίσαντος Δουλκιτίου ἡγεμόνος ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος, Ἄρτεμίσιος κομενταρήσιος εἶπεν" Ὁποίαν νοτωρίαν περὶ τῶν παρεστώτων τούτων ὁ ἐνθάδε στατιωνάριος ἀπέστειλεν πρὸς τὴν σὴν Τύχην, εἶ κελεύεις ἀναγινώσκω. Δουλκίτιος ἡγεμὼν εἶπεν" Ἀνάγνωϑι. καὶ ἐκ τῆς τάξεως ἀνεγνώσϑη" Σοὶ τῷ ἐμῷ δεσπότῃ Κάσανδρος βενεφικιάριος. γίνωσκε, κύριε, Ἀγάϑωνα καὶ Εἰρήνην καὶ Ἀγάπην καὶ Χιόνην καὶ Κασίαν xal Φιλίππαν καὶ Εὐτυχίαν μὴ βούλεσθαι ἱερόϑυτον φαγεῖν, οὕστινας προσάγω σῇ τῇ Τύχῃ. Δουλκίτιος ἡγεμὼν εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς" Τίς ἡ τοσαύτη μανία τὸ μὴ πείϑεσϑαι ὑμᾶς τῇ κελεύσει τῶν ϑεοφιλεστάτων βασιλέων ἡμῶν καὶ καισάρων; καὶ πρὸς Ἀγάϑωνα εἶπεν" Διὰ τί παραγενόμενος εἰς τὰ ἱερά, καϑὼς oi καϑωσιωμένοι, τοῖς ἱεροῖς οὐκ ἐχρήσω; Ἀγάϑων εἶπεν" “Ὅτι Χριστιανός εἶμι. Δουλκίτιος ἡγεμὼν εἶπεν: Ἔτι καὶ σήμερον τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἐπιμένεις; Ἀγάϑων εἶπεν: Ναί. Δουλκίτιος εἶπεν" Σὺ τί λέγεις, ἡ Ἀγάπη; Ἀγάπη εἶπεν: Θεῷ ζῶντι πεπίστευκα, καὶ οὐ βούλομαι τὴν συνείδησίν μου ἀπολέσαι. Δουλκίτιος ἡγεμὼν εἶπεν" Σὺ τί λέγεις, Εἰρήνη; διὰ τί οὐκ ἐπείσϑης τῇ κελεύσει τῶν δεσπο- τῶν ἡμῶν τῶν βασιλέων καὶ καισάρων; Εἰρήνη εἶπεν: Διὰ φόβον ϑεοῦ. ὃ ἡγεμὼν εἶπεν" Σὺ τί λέγεις, Χιόνη. Χιόνη εἶπεν" Θεῷ ζῶντι πεπίστευκα καὶ οὐ ποιῶ τοῦτο. ὃ ἡγεμὼν λέγει" Σὺ τί λέγεις, Κασία; Κασία εἶπεν" Τὴν ψυχήν μου σῶσαι ϑέλω. ὁ ἡγεμὼν εἶπεν" Τῶν ἱερῶν μεταλαβεῖν ϑέλεις; Κασία εἶπεν: Οὐ ϑέλω. ὃ ἡγεμὼν εἶπεν" Σὺ τί λέγεις, ἡ Φιλίππα; Φιλίππα εἶπεν" Τὸ αὐτὸ λέγω. ὃ ἡγεμὼν εἶπεν" Τί ἔστι Τὸ αὐτό; Φιλίππα εἶπεν: Ἀποϑαγεῖν ϑέλω μᾶλλον ἢ φαγεῖν. ὃ ἡγεμὼν εἶπεν" Σὺ τί λέγεις, Εὐτυχία; Εὐτυχία εἶπεν: Τὸ αὐτὸ λέγω, ἀποϑανεῖν μᾶλλον ϑέλω. ὁ ἡγεμὼν εἶπεν" Ἄνδρα ἔχεις; Εὐτυχία εἶπεν" Ἐτελεύτησεν. ὁ ἡγεμὼν εἶπεν" Πότε ἐτελεύτησεν; Εὐτυχία εἶπεν. Πρὸ μηνῶν τάχα ἑπτά; ὃ ἦγεμὼν εἶπεν" Πόϑεν οὖν ἐγκύμων εἶ; Εὐτυχία εἶπεν: Ἔξ οὗ ἔδωκέν μοι ὃ ϑεὸς ἀνδρός. ὃ ἡγεμὼν εἶπεν: Πῶς οὖν ἐγκύμων τυγχάνεις, ὁπότε λέγεις τὸν ἄνδρα σὸν τετελευτηκέναι; Εὐτυχία εἶπεν" Τὴν βούλησιν τοῦ παντοκράτορος ϑεοῦ οὐδεὶς δύναται εἰδέναι. οὕτως ἠϑέλησεν ὃ ϑεός. ὃ ἡγεμὼν εἶπεν" Παύσασϑαι τὴν Εὐτυχίαν τῆς μανίας προτρέπομαι μετελϑεῖν τε ἐπὶ τὸν ἀνθρώπινον λογισμόν. τί λέγεις; πείϑῃ τῇ βασιλικῇ κελεύσει; Εὐτυχία εἶπεν" Οὐ πείϑο- μαι, Χριστιανή εἰμι, ϑεοῦ δούλη παντοκράτορος. ὃ ἡγεμὼν εἶπεν" Εὐτυχία, διὰ τὸ ἐγκύμονα αὐτὴν εἶναι, τέως ἀναληφϑήσεται εἰς τὸ δεσμωτήριον.

### English translation (Claude)

When Dulcitius the governor had taken his seat on the tribunal, Artemisius the commentariensis said, “If you so order, I will read the report which the stationarius here has sent to Your Fortune concerning these persons present.” Dulcitius the governor said, “Read it.” And it was read out by the office: “To you, my lord, from Cassander, beneficiarius. Know, lord, that Agathon, Irene, Agape, Chione, Cassia, Philippa, and Eutychia refuse to eat sacrificial meat; I am bringing them before Your Fortune.” Dulcitius the governor said to them, “What is this great madness, that you do not obey the command of our most god-beloved emperors and Caesars?” And to Agathon he said, “Why, when you came to the sacred rites, as the devout do, did you not partake of the offerings?” Agathon said, “Because I am a Christian.” Dulcitius the governor said, “Do you still persist in the same today?” Agathon said, “Yes.” Dulcitius said, “What do you say, Agape?” Agape said, “I have believed in the living God, and I do not wish to destroy my conscience.” Dulcitius the governor said, “What do you say, Irene? Why did you not obey the command of our lords the emperors and Caesars?” Irene said, “For fear of God.” The governor said, “What do you say, Chione?” Chione said, “I have believed in the living God, and I do not do this.” The governor said, “What do you say, Cassia?” Cassia said, “I want to save my soul.” The governor said, “Do you want to partake of the offerings?” Cassia said, “I do not.” The governor said, “What do you say, Philippa?” Philippa said, “I say the same.” The governor said, “What is ‘the same’?” Philippa said, “I would rather die than eat.” The governor said, “What do you say, Eutychia?” Eutychia said, “I say the same: I would rather die.” The governor said, “Do you have a husband?” Eutychia said, “He has died.” The governor said, “When did he die?” Eutychia said, “About seven months ago.” The governor said, “How then are you with child?” Eutychia said, “By the husband whom God gave me.” The governor said, “How then are you with child, when you say that your husband has died?” Eutychia said, “No one can know the will of God almighty. So God willed.” The governor said, “I urge Eutychia to cease from her madness and return to human reason. What do you say? Will you obey the imperial command?” Eutychia said, “I will not obey; I am a Christian, a servant of God almighty.” The governor said, “Eutychia, because she is with child, shall meanwhile be taken back to prison.”

### Translation notes

- Commentariensis, stationarius, and beneficiarius are Roman official titles (clerk of the court, police officer, and a soldier on special duty). The persecution under Diocletian and Maximian, A.D. 304.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 3 (Knopf, 86; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/martyrium-agapes-irenes-chionae/3).

## 4

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-agapes-irenes-chionae/0/#p-4
- Source: Knopf, 86
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Agape and Chione are sentenced to be burned; the others are imprisoned.

### Greek text

Καὶ προσέϑηκεν" Σὺ τί λέγεις, Ἀγάπη; ποιεῖς ταῦτα πάντα ὅσα ἡμεῖς οἱ καϑωσιωμένοι τοῖς δεσπόταις ἡμῶν βασιλεῦσι καὶ καίσαρσι ποιοῦμεν; Ἀγάπη εἶπεν. Οὐκ ἔνι καλῶς τῷ σατανᾷ, οὐκ ἄγει μου τὸν λογισμόν, ἀνίκητος ὃ λογισμὸς ἡμῶν. ὅ ἡγεμὼν εἶπεν" Σὺ τί λέγεις, Χιόνη; Χιόνη εἶπεν" Τὸν λογισμὸν ἡμῶν οὐδεὶς δύναται μεταγαγεῖν. ὃ ἡγεμὼν εἶπεν- ή τινά ἔστιν παρ᾽ ὑμῖν τῶν ἀνοσίων Χριστιανῶν ἢ ὑπομνήματα ἢ διφϑέραι ἢ βιβλία; Χιόνη εἶπεν" Οὐκ ἔστιν, κύριε, ἅπαντα γὰρ οἱ νῦν αὐτοκράτορες ἐξεφόρησαν. ὃ ἡγεμὼν εἶπεν" Τίνες ὑμῖν τὴν γνώμην ταύτην ἔδωκαν; Χιόνη εἶπεν" Ὁ παντοκράτωρ ϑεός. ὃ ἡγεμὼν εἶπεν" Τίνες εἰσὶν οἵ συμβουλεύσαντες ὑμῖν εἷς ταύτην τὴν ἀπόνοιαν ἐλϑεῖν; Χιόνη εἶπεν: Ὁ ϑεὸς ó παντοκράτωρ xal ὃ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ὃ μονογενής, ὃ κύριος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦς Χριστός. Δουλκίτιος ἡγεμὼν εἶπεν" Πάντας ὑποκεῖσθαι τῇ καϑοσιώσει τῶν δεσποτῶν ἡμῶν τῶν βασιλέων καὶ καισάρων πᾶσι πρόδηλόν ἔστιν. ἐπειδὴ δὲ ἀπονοίᾳ τινὲ χρησάμενοι ἀπὸ τοσούτου χρόνου καὶ τοσαύτης παραγγελίας γενομένης καὶ τοσούτων διαταγμάτων προτεϑέντων, τηλικαύτης ἀπειλῆς ἐπηρτημένης, κατεφρονήσατε τῆς κελεύσεως τῶν δεσποτῶν ἡμῶν τῶν βασιλέων καὶ καισάρων, ἐπιμένουσαι τῷ ἀἄνοσίῳ ὀνόματι τῶν Χριστιανῶν, ἔτι γε μὴν καὶ τήμερον ἀναγκαζόμεναι ὑπό τε τῶν στατιωνιζόντων καὶ τῶν πρωτευόντων ἀρνήσασθαι xol ἐγγράφως ποιῆσαι τὰ κελευσϑέντα, οὐ βούλεσϑε, τούτου ἕνεκεν τὴν δέουσαν εἷς ξαυτὰς τιμωρίαν ἐκδέξασϑε. καὶ τὴν ἀπόφασιν ἔγγραφον ἐκ χάρτου ἀνέγνω" Ἀγάπην καὶ Χιόνην, ἐπειδὴ ἀκαϑοσιώτῳ διανοίᾳ ἐναντία ἐφρόνησαν τῷ ϑείῳ ϑεσπίσματι τῶν δεσποτῶν ἡμῶν αὐγούστων καὶ καισάρων, ἔτι εἰκαίαν καὶ ἕωλον καὶ στυγητὴν πᾶσι τοῖς καϑωσιωμένοις σέβουσαι τὴν τῶν Χριστιανῶν ϑρησκείαν, πυρὶ ἐκέλευσα παραδοϑῆναι. καὶ προσέϑηκεν" Ἀγάϑων καὶ Εἰρήνη καὶ Κασία καὶ Φιλίιπα [καὶ Εὐτυχία] διὰ τὸ νέον τῆς ἡλικίας τέως ἐμβληϑήσονται εἷς τὸ δεσμωτήριον.

### English translation (Claude)

And he added, “What do you say, Agape? Will you do all these things that we who are devoted do for our lords the emperors and Caesars?” Agape said, “It does not go well for Satan; he does not lead my reasoning; our reasoning is unconquerable.” The governor said, “What do you say, Chione?” Chione said, “No one can change our reasoning.” The governor said, “Do you have any writings of the impious Christians—records, parchments, or books?” Chione said, “There are none, lord; the present emperors have carried them all off.” The governor said, “Who gave you this resolve?” Chione said, “God almighty.” The governor said, “Who are those who advised you to come to this folly?” Chione said, “God almighty and his only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.” Dulcitius the governor said, “It is plain to all that everyone is bound to the devotion owed to our lords the emperors and Caesars. But since, out of some folly, after so long a time, so much warning, and so many edicts posted, with so great a threat hanging over you, you have despised the command of our lords the emperors and Caesars, persisting in the impious name of the Christians, and even today, when urged by the stationarii and the leading men to deny and to carry out in writing what was ordered, you refuse—for this reason receive the punishment due to you.” And he read the sentence written on a sheet: “Agape and Chione, since with undevoted mind they have held views contrary to the divine decree of our lords the Augusti and Caesars, and still observe the rash, stale religion of the Christians, hateful to all the devout, I have ordered to be handed over to the fire.” And he added, “Agathon, Irene, Cassia, and Philippa, because of their youth, shall meanwhile be thrown into prison.”

### Translation notes

- The editor brackets “and Eutychia” after Philippa (she had already been remanded in chapter 3); it is left out here.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 4 (Knopf, 86; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/martyrium-agapes-irenes-chionae/4).

## 5

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-agapes-irenes-chionae/0/#p-5
- Source: Knopf, 86
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Irene, who hid the Scriptures, is questioned and condemned to a brothel.

### Greek text

Μετὰ δὲ τὸ τελειωϑῆναι τὰς ἁγιωτάτας διὰ πυρός, τῇ ἑξῆς προσαχϑείσης πάλιν τῆς ἁγίας Εἰρήνης, ó ἡγεμὼν Δουλκίτιος εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτήν" Ἢ πρόϑεσις τῆς σῆς μανίας φανερὰ καὶ διὰ τῶν δρωμένων, ἥτις τοσαύτας διφϑέρας καὶ βιβλία καὶ πινακίδας καὶ κωδικέλλους καὶ σελίδας γραφῶν τῶν ποτε γενομένων Χριστιανῶν τῶν ἀνοσίων ἐβουλήϑης ἄχρι καὶ τῆς σήμερον φυλάξαι, προκομισϑέντων τε ἐπέγνως, καϑεκάστην εἰποῦσα ἴδια μὴ εἶναι, μὴ ἀρκεσϑεῖσα μήτε τῇ κολάσει τῶν ἑαυτῆς ἀδελφῶν, μήτε τὸν φόβον ἐκεῖγον τοῦ ϑανάτου πρὸ ὀφϑαλμῶν ἔχουσα. ὅϑεν ἄνάγκη ἐπικεῖσϑαι μέν σοι τὰ τῆς τιμωρίας. ἔστι δὲ ἐνδοῦναί σοι μέρος φιλανϑρω- πίας οὐκ ἄκαιρον, ὥστε, ei βουληϑείης νῦν γ᾽ οὖν ϑεοὺς ἐπιγινώσκειν, εἶναί σε ἀϑῴαν κινδύνου παντὸς καὶ κολάσεως. τί οὖν λέγεις; ποιεῖς τὴν κέλευσιν τῶν βασιλέων ἡμῶν καὶ καισάρων καὶ ἑτοίμη εἶ ἱερόϑυτον φαγεῖν σήμερον xai ϑῦσαι τοῖς ϑεοῖς; Εἰρήνη εἶπεν" Οὐχί, οὔκ εἶμι ἑτοίμη ποιῆσαι διὰ τὸν παντοκράτορα ϑεὸν τὸν κτίσαντα οὐρανόν τε καὶ γῆν καὶ ϑάλασσαν καὶ πάντα τὰ ἐν αὐτοῖς" μεγάλη γὰρ δίκη αἰωνίου βασάνου τοῖς παραβαίνουσιν τὸν λόγον τοῦ ϑεοῦ. Δουλκίτιος ἡγεμὼν εἶπεν" Τίς σοι συνεβούλευσεν τὰς διφϑέρας ταύτας καὶ τὰς γραφὰς μέχρι τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας φυλάξαι; Εἰρήνη εἶπεν" Ὁ ϑεὸς ὃ παντοκράτωρ ὃ εἰπὼν ἕως ϑανάτου ἀγαπῆσαι αὐτόν. τούτου ἕνεκεν οὐκ ἐτολμήσαμεν προδοῦναι, ἀλλ᾽ ἡρετισάμεϑα ἤτοι ζῶσαι καίεσϑαι ἢ ὅσα ἂν συμβῇ ἡμῖν πάσχειν, ἢ προδοῦναι αὐτάς. ó ἡγεμὼν εἶπεν" Τίς σοι συνήδει ταύτας εἶναι ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ ἐν ᾗ σὺ ᾧκεις; Εἰρήνη εἶπεν" Ἕτερος οὐδείς, βλέπει {ὃ ϑεός», εἶ μὴ ὃ παντοχράτωρ ϑεὸς ὃ πάντα εἰδώς" περισσοτέρως γὰρ οὐδείς. τοὺς ἰδίους ἐχϑρῶν χείρονας ἡγησάμεϑα, μήπως κατηγορήσωσιν ἡμῶν, xai οὐδενὶ ἐμηνύσαμεν. ὃ ἡγεμὼν εἶπεν" Τῷ περυσινῷ ἔτει, ἡνίκα ἡ τηλικαύτη κέλευσις αὐτῶν τῶν δεσποτῶν ἡμῶν τῶν βασιλέων καὶ καισάρων πρώτως ἐφοίτησεν, ποῦ ἀπεκρύφϑητε; Εἰρήνη εἶπεν" Ὅπου ἂν ó ϑεὸς ἠϑέλησεν, ἐν ὄρεσι, βλέπει ὃ ϑεός, ὕπαιϑροι. ὁ ἡγεμὼν εἶπεν: Παρὰ τίνι ἐγίνεσϑε; Εἰρήνη εἶπεν: Ὕπαιϑροι ἐν ἄλλοις καὶ ἄλλοις ὄρεσιν. ó ἡγεμὼν εἶπεν" Τίνες ἦσαν oi τὸν ἄρτον ὑμῖν παρέχοντες; Εἰρήνη εἶπεν: Ὁ ϑεὸς ὃ πᾶσι παρέχων. ὃ ἡγεμὼν εἶπεν" Συνέγνω ὑμῖν ὃ πατὴρ ὃ ὑμέτερος; Εἰρήνη εἶπεν" Μὰ τὸν παντοκράτορα ϑεόν, οὐ συνέγνω οὔτε ἔγνω ὅλως. ὃ ἡγεμὼν εἶπεν" Tíc τῶν γειτόνων ὑμῖν συνήδει; Εἰρήνη εἶπεν" Ἐπερώτα τοὺς γείτονας κατὰ τοὺς τόπους, εἴ τις ἔγνω ὅπου ἡμεῖς ἦμεν. ὁ ἡγεμὼν εἶπεν· Μετὰ τὸ ἐπανελϑεῖν ἔκ τοῦ ὄρους ὑμᾶς, ὡς σὺ φής, τὰ γραμματεῖα ταῦτα ἀνεγινώσκετε παρόντων τινῶν; Εἰρήνη εἶπεν" Ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ ἡμῶν ἦσαν καὶ οὐκ ἐτολμῶμεν αὐτὰ ἐξάγειν ἔξω. ὅϑεν λοιπὸν καὶ ἐν ϑλίψει μεγάλῃ ἦμεν μείνασαι, ὅτι οὐκ ἠδυνάμεϑα αὐτοῖς προσέχειν νύκτα καὶ ἡμέραν, καϑὼς καὶ ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς ἐποιοῦμεν ἕως τὸ τῆς περυσινῆς ἡμέρας ἧς καὶ ἀπεκρύψαμεν αὐτά. Δουλκίτιος ἦγεμὼν εἶπεν: Αἱ μὲν ἀδελφαί... κατὰ τὰ προσταχϑέντα αὐταῖς, ἀποφάσει περιεκαύϑησαν. σὺ δέ, ἐπεὶ αἰτία γεγένησαι καὶ πρότερον τῆς φυγῆς καὶ τῆς τῶν γραμμάτων τούτων καὶ διφϑερῶν ἄποκρύψεως, ἀπαλλαγῆναι τοῦ βίου οὐ τῷ αὐτῷ τρόπῳ σε κελεύω ἀϑρόως, ἀλλὰ διὰ τῆς T ἐμπήξεως T τῶν ἀγορανόμων τῆς πόλεως ταύτης καὶ Ζωσίμου τοῦ δημοσίου εἷς πορνεῖον στῆναι γυμνὴν κελεύω, λαμβάνουσαν ἔκ τοῦ παλατίου ἕνα ἄρτον μόνον, μὴ ἐπιτρεπόντων τῶν ἀγορανόμων ἀναχωρεῖν σε.

### English translation (Claude)

After the most holy women had been perfected through fire, on the next day holy Irene was brought in again, and Dulcitius the governor said to her, “The purpose of your madness is plain also from what has been done: you chose to keep until this very day so many parchments, books, tablets, codices, and pages of writings of the Christians of former times, the impious ones; and when they were produced you acknowledged them, though you had said each time that they were not yours. You were not satisfied with the punishment of your own sisters, nor did you keep that fear of death before your eyes. Therefore punishment must be laid upon you. Yet it is not out of place to grant you some measure of humanity: if even now you will acknowledge the gods, you will be free of all danger and punishment. What then do you say? Will you do the command of our emperors and Caesars, and are you ready today to eat sacrificial meat and to sacrifice to the gods?” Irene said, “No, I am not ready to do it, because of God almighty, who created heaven and earth and the sea and all that is in them; for great is the judgment of eternal torment for those who transgress the word of God.” Dulcitius the governor said, “Who advised you to keep these parchments and writings until this day?” Irene said, “God almighty, who told us to love him unto death. For this reason we did not dare to betray them, but chose to be burned alive or to suffer whatever might befall us rather than betray them.” The governor said, “Who knew that they were in the house where you lived?” Irene said, “No one else—God sees it—except God almighty, who knows all things; besides him, no one. We counted our own people worse than enemies, lest they accuse us, and we disclosed it to no one.” The governor said, “Last year, when this great command of our lords the emperors and Caesars was first published, where did you hide?” Irene said, “Wherever God willed: in the mountains—God sees it—in the open air.” The governor said, “With whom were you staying?” Irene said, “In the open air, on one mountain and another.” The governor said, “Who were those who supplied you with bread?” Irene said, “God, who supplies all.” The governor said, “Was your father aware of it?” Irene said, “By God almighty, he was not aware of it, nor did he know at all.” The governor said, “Which of your neighbors knew?” Irene said, “Ask the neighbors in those places whether anyone knew where we were.” The governor said, “After you came back from the mountain, as you say, did you read these writings with others present?” Irene said, “They were in our house, and we did not dare to bring them out. So we remained in great distress, because we could not give ourselves to them night and day, as we had done from the beginning until that day last year when we hid them.” Dulcitius the governor said, “Your sisters, as was ordered for them, were burned by sentence. But you, since you were responsible earlier both for the flight and for hiding these writings and parchments, I order to be put out of life not in the same way and not at once; rather, through the … of the aediles of this city and of Zosimus the public slave, I order you to be placed naked in a brothel, receiving one loaf only from the palace, the aediles not permitting you to leave.”

### Scripture references

- Acts 4:24: echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- The word before “of the aediles” is marked corrupt by the editor (ἐμπήξεως, perhaps “fixing” or “posting”); it is shown as “…”. The writings Irene hid are the Christian Scriptures sought under Diocletian's first edict (A.D. 303).

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 5 (Knopf, 86; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/martyrium-agapes-irenes-chionae/5).

## 6

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-agapes-irenes-chionae/0/#p-6
- Source: Knopf, 86
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Irene is kept pure in the brothel and then sentenced to be burned.

### Greek text

Εἰσαχϑέντων οὖν τῶν ἀγορανόμων xal Ζωσίμου δούλου δημοσίου, ὁ ἡγεμὼν εἶπεν· Ὑμεῖς δὲ μὴ οὐκ ἀγνοεῖτε ὡς, ἐὰν μηνυϑείη μοι ἐκ τῆς τάξεως κἂν ἐλαχίστην ὥραν ἀπηλλάχϑαι αὐτὴν ἔκ τοῦ τόπου ἐκείνου, ἔν ᾧ προστέτακται ἑστάναι, τὸ τηνικαῦτα τῇ ἀνωτάτω δίκῃ ὑποβληϑήσεσϑε; τὰ δὲ γραμματεῖα τὰ προκομισϑέντα ἐν τοῖς πυργίσκοις καὶ τοῖς κιβωτίοις τῆς Εἰρήνης δημοσίᾳ καήτωσαν. καὶ κατὰ τὸ πρόσταγμα τοῦτο τοῦ ἡγεμόνος ἀπαγαγόντων αὐτὴν τῶν εἷς τοῦτο τεταγμένων ἐπὶ τὸν δημόσιον τόπον τοῦ πορνείου, διὰ τὴν χάριν τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος τὴν φρουροῦσαν αὐτὴν καὶ φυλάττουσαν καϑαρὰν τῷ τῶν ὅλων δεσπότῃ ϑεῷ, μηδενὸς τολμήσαντος προσελϑεῖν μήτε μέχρι ῥήματος ὑβριστικόν τι ἐπιτηδεύσαντος τελέσαι, ἀνακαλεσάμενος τὴν ἁγιωτάτην ὃ Δουλκίτιος ἡγεμὼν καὶ στήσας ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος, εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτήν" Ἔμμένεις ἔτι τῇ αὐτῇ ἀπονοίᾳ; Εἰρήνη εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτόν" Οὐχὶ ἀπονοίᾳ ἀλλὰ ϑεοσεβείᾳ. ὅ δὲ ἡγεμὼν Δουλκίτιος εἶπεν" Καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς προτέρας σου ἀποκρίσεως φανερῶς ἐδείχϑη τὸ μὴ καϑωσιωμένως πεπεῖσϑαι τῇ κελεύσει τῶν βασιλέων καὶ νῦν ἔτι ἐμμένουσάν σε τῇ αὐτῇ ἀπονοίᾳ ϑεωρῶ. ὅϑεν λήψῃ τὴν δέουσαν τιμωρίαν. καὶ αἰτήσας χάρτην, πρὸς αὐτὴν ἀπόφασιν ἔγραψεν οὕτως" Εἰρήνην, ἐπειδὴ οὐκ ἠϑέλησεν πεισϑῆναι τῇ κελεύσει τῶν βασιλέων καὶ ϑῦσαι, ἔτι γε μὴν ϑρησκεύουσαν Χριστιανικῇ τινι τάξει, τούτου χάριν, ὡς καὶ τὰς πρότερον δύο ἀδελφὰς αὐτῆς, οὕτω καὶ ταύτην ζῶσαν καῆναι ἐκέλευσα.

### English translation (Claude)

When the aediles and Zosimus the public slave had been brought in, the governor said, “You are surely not unaware that if it is reported to me by the office that she has left the place where she has been ordered to stand, even for the briefest hour, you will then be subjected to the severest penalty? And the writings produced from Irene's cabinets and chests are to be burned in public.” And according to this order of the governor, those appointed for the task led her off to the public place of the brothel; but by the grace of the Holy Spirit, which guarded her and kept her pure for God, the Master of all, no one dared to approach her or even to attempt an insulting word. Dulcitius the governor called the most holy woman back, set her before the tribunal, and said to her, “Do you still persist in the same folly?” Irene said to him, “Not folly, but godliness.” Dulcitius the governor said, “Already from your earlier answer it was plainly shown that you have not obeyed the command of the emperors with devotion, and now I see that you still persist in the same folly. Therefore you will receive the punishment due.” And asking for a sheet, he wrote the sentence against her thus: “Irene, since she has refused to obey the command of the emperors and to sacrifice, and moreover still practices a certain Christian rite—for this reason, as with her two sisters before, so I have ordered her too to be burned alive.”

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 6 (Knopf, 86; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/martyrium-agapes-irenes-chionae/6).

## 7

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/martyrium-agapes-irenes-chionae/0/#p-7
- Source: Knopf, 86
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

Summary: Irene is burned on 1 April 304.

### Greek text

Καὶ ταύτης τῆς ἀποφάσεως ἐξελϑούσης παρὰ τοῦ ἡγεμόνος, λαβόμενοι οἱ στρατιῶται ἀπήγαγον αὐτὴν ἐπί τίνος ὑψηλοῦ τόπου, ἔνϑα καὶ αἱ πρότερον αὐτῆς ἀδελφαὶ μεμαρτυρήκασιν. πυρὰν γὰρ ἅψαντες μεγάλην, ἐκέλευσαν αὐτὴν ἀφ᾽ ἑαυτῆς ἀνελϑεῖν. ἡ δὲ ἁγία Εἰρήνη ψάλλουσα καὶ δοξάζουσα τὸν ϑεόν, ἔρριψεν ἑαυτὴν κατὰ τῆς πυρᾶς καὶ οὕτως ἐτελειώϑη, ὑπατίας Διοκλητιανοῦ Αὐγούστου τὸ ἔνατον καὶ Μαξιμιανοῦ Αὐγούστου τὸ ὄγδοον, καλάνδαις Ἀπριλίαις, βασιλεύοντος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν, μεϑ᾽ οὗ τῷ πατρὶ ἡ δόξα σὺν τῷ ἁγίῳ πνεύματι εἷς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. ἀμήν.

### English translation (Claude)

When this sentence had been issued by the governor, the soldiers took her and led her off to a high place, where her sisters had been martyred before her. They kindled a great pyre and ordered her to climb onto it by herself. And holy Irene, singing psalms and glorifying God, threw herself onto the pyre and so was perfected, in the ninth consulship of Diocletian Augustus and the eighth of Maximian Augustus, on the Kalends of April, while our Lord Jesus Christ reigns forever; with whom be glory to the Father, with the Holy Spirit, to the ages of ages. Amen.

### Translation notes

- The date is 1 April 304.

### Citation (SBL)

Act. 7 (Knopf, 86; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/martyrium-agapes-irenes-chionae/7).