Saint Irene Chrysovalantou was the daughter of an aristocratic family from the province of Cappadocia. After the death of the apostate Theophilus, his wife Theodora occupied the throne of Byzantium. She freed the church from iconoclasts and restored a true spirit of holy Orthodoxy. This rule was to rule until her son Michael came of age.

On Michael's 12th name day, messengers were dispatched by his mother to find a suitably beautiful girl to be his wife. They found such a candidate: Irene. She gladly accepted their proposal and the whole family proceeded to Byzantium. Among the company was Irene's sister who later married the Empress Theodora's brother Vardas. While passing Mt. Olympus, Irene asked to visit Ioannikos, a saintly recluse of that mountain, to receive his blessing. When Irene approached him he called out "welcome Irene, the Servant of God. Proceed to the Imperial city in joy because the convent of Chrysovalantou needs you in the community." Irene was amazed at this prophetic power and fell to the ground imploring his blessing. Ioannikos lifted her up, gave her strength so that she continues her journey in joy. Remembering the hermit's prophecy, on reaching the Byzantium Irene found out for Michael to marry another girl. Remembering Ioannikos prophecy she visited the great monastery of Chrysovalantou and was so impressed by the climate and the beautiful way of life led by the nuns that she freed her slaves, and gave all her inherited wealth to the poor and entered the community. This young novice was winning the admiration of all people through her obedience, humility and concern for all.

In her room she read the lives of the saints, prayed night and day. For food she only took bread and water, occasionally supplemented by herbs or vegetables. For clothing she took a new habit every Easter-Holy Pasha-and only cleaned it as a gift to the poor the following lent. For her task in the house she chose to clean toilets, never giving a thought to her noble past. The holy spiritual mother became very weak. Realizing that she would soon die, she called all the nuns and told them "Do not lament my departure for in my successor you have a leader who is wiser than I. Do not accept anyone but Irene." Methodios the Confessor was the Patriarch. The nuns went to him to seek his advice. Methodios with no prior knowledge of the former abbess' disclosure, inquired as to whether there was one of their number of humble disposition called Irene. If so, he believed that she was the choice and that this choice was well pleasing in the sight of God. He then ordained Irene deaconess in the Holy Church. The Patriarch clothed her as Abbess and dismissed them with his blessing. She guided the poor.

Video: Beautiful hymn to St.Irene (in Greek, 4:30 min)

All her life she kept the feast of St. Basil the Great with special devotion, as he was from her own country. After that day, during the third watch of the night, she heard a voice saying "Welcome the sailor who brings fruit to you today and eat it with joy." Later that day she heard another voice saying "Go to the door and bring in the sailor." The sailor told her that a very old man had given him three apples to bring to the Abbess of Chrysovalantou. To you he said "Eat these and all that your beautiful soul's desires will be granted." Irene ate small pieces of the first apple daily without any other food or water for the next 40 days. As a further sign of God's grace the remaining apples increased in beauty and aroma. At the same time such fragrance came out of her mouth while eating that it seemed to all nuns that she was always making myrrh. On Holy Thursday she took the second apple and gave each one a piece. The third apple she kept until its purpose should be revealed. The week before St. Panteleimon, Irene prepared her by remaining all day in meditation and fasting.

This meant taking only water with small pieces of the third apple. She ate it now because she felt that the time to join the bridegroom was near. She cried out and the sisters rushed to her and said "Today my children, I depart from this world for the time has come for me to pass eternal life. Never follow the will of the flesh but only the Will of God. Raising her hands she sat up and smiled at the sight of the holy angels who greeted her, and once her face shone like the sun. Then she closed her eyes as if she wished to rest and her spirit was delivered to the lord.

The following day the entire congregation, now much larger, who came to pay their final respects were amazed at the beautiful features of one who was more than 102 years of age. Throughout the day the convent was filled with unexplainable fragrance which persisted at the Saint's burial for many years.

We celebrate St. Irene Chrysovalantou every year on July 28 and sing the following hymn (in Greek):

Βασιλείας γηΐνους πάλαι ούκ ετυχες, αλλ' άφθάρτων στεφάνων νυν σε ηξίωσεν, ό Νυμφίος σου Χριστός ό ώραιότατος, ώ καθιέρωσας σαύτήν, όλη καρδία καί ψυχη, Είρήνη Όσία Μήτερ, Χρυσοβαλάντου ή δόξα, ήμών δέπροσφυγή καί βοήθεια.