SAINT IRENÉE (IRENAEUS) OF LYON

Although not from Lyon, this saint most associated with Lyon, was actually born in Smyrna (modern day Izmir in Turkey), between 120 and 130 AD.  He arrived early in Lugdunum (Lyon), then a thriving Roman city of some 50,000 inhabitants, and became the second bishop of Lyon. 

Though not native, he forged a vital link between Lyon and the Church's Apostolic origins, having studied under Saint Polycarp, who was a disciple of St John the Apostle and Evangelist. This connection established Lyon as a key centre of the early Christian church, commemorated in its churches and stained-glass windows depicting the city’s martyrs and great teachers.

Irenaeus’ writings, most notably Against Heresies (c. 185 AD), combated Gnosticism and offered one of the first systematic expositions of Christian faith. He clarified the authority of Scripture, affirmed the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, defended apostolic succession, and helped shape the New Testament canon. His work bridged East and West, preserving unity and orthodoxy during a time of doctrinal division over the celebration of Easter.

Recognized for his profound influence on Christianity, Pope Francis proclaimed him Doctor of the Church in 2022, giving him the title Doctor Unitatis (Doctor of Unity). Irenaeus’ legacy endures in Lyon and beyond, as a teacher, theologian, and defender of the faith whose vision continues to inspire the universal Church.

Deeply intertwined with the earliest roots of Christianity in Lyon, the Crypt of Saint-Irénée underneath the Church of Saint Irenée is believed to have once sheltered the relics of Saint Irenaeus, the city’s second bishop and one of the great theologians of the early Church, together with the martyrs Alexander and Epipodius, who gave their lives for the faith in 178 AD. For centuries, the faithful venerated their remains here until the Wars of Religion in 1562, when the crypt was desecrated, and the relics scattered. Some fragments were later gathered and placed in the ossuary in the renovated crypt, and though their authenticity remains uncertain, this sacred place continues to echo with prayer, devotion, and memory.

(Please note: the crypt is currently closed for renovations until June 2026.)