Today we celebrate the Venerable Irene of Chrysovalantou. Saint Irene was born to pious parents and was raised in virtue. When she came of age, she was sent to Constantinople with a bridegroom waiting for her, but when she arrived, he had already taken another wife. Saint Irene rejoiced at this meant she could pursue her calling in monasticism. Joining the monastery of Chrysovalantou, she eventually became abbess because of her holiness and asceticism. On great feast days, after vigils she would spend the whole night in the courtyard praying, where one nun caught her praying suspended in mid air, with the cypress trees bowing down to her, on which she tied two handkerchiefs. When the other nuns found out about this miracle, she forbade them to tell anyone until after her death. She also miraculously received three apples from Paradise sent to her by an Angel, which she ate some and shared some with her fellow nuns. Being informed of her impending death, she spent her last days in prayer and fasting, eating only of these sweet apples of Paradise. Saint Irene reposed in the Lord peacefully at the age of 101. She is often called on for barren couples to conceive children. May she intercede for us all + #saint #irene #chrysovalantou #irenechrysovalantou #stirene #saintirene #monastery #nun #abbess #virtue #holy #God #apple #threeapples #angel #orthodox #sophia
