Baring-Gould’s sources: By the Greeks on Aug. 25th; by the Latins on this day, or March 6th or 25th. Authorities:—The authentic Acts of his martyrdom.

S. Irenæus, bishop of Sirmich or Mitrovitz on the Save, in Pannonia [a Roman province roughly covering western Hungary and parts of Austria and Croatia], the modern Hungary, died on March 25th, in the year 304. He was arrested by order of Probus, the governor of Pannonia, and was led before his tribunal. All his family were present. His mother, wife, and children surrounded him, and some of the younger children clung to his knees and implored him not to leave them. His wife cast her arms round his neck and burst into tears on his breast, and conjured him to submit to the imperial edict so as to preserve himself for her and his innocent children. The governor joined in this attempt to shake his constancy. But S. Irenæus said, "Our Lord Jesus Christ hath declared that the man who loveth father or mother, wife or children, more than Him, is not worthy of Him, so that I forget I am a father, a husband, and a son."

Irenæus was then ordered to have his head struck off and his body cast into the river Save.