Historians suspect this woman of the murder of her husband, the Byzantine emperor Leo IV, and accused of destroying the only son of Constantine VI with special sadism. But at the same time, she is revered to this day as Saint Irene of Byzantium.
In the fall of 768 from the birth of Christ, an unusual flotilla set off from Constantinople to Athens. Ships covered with silk and decorated with flowers sailed for the bride for the son of the Byzantine emperor Constantine V. The capital of the Eastern Roman Empire was preparing for wedding celebrations …
Modest from Athens
Sitting on a golden throne, Konstantin opened the veil that hid the chiseled face of the 16-year-old bride. When Irina appeared to the people, surrounded by a large retinue of patricians, the Byzantines enthusiastically greeted her …
The emperor, placing the royal diadem on the head of his daughter-in-law, could not even imagine that an orphan brought up in religious severity would destroy his son and grandson in the future, and also put an end to the entire dynasty. True, Irina's piety at first seemed too ardent to the Byzantines. But she was still so young, besides, she came from provincial Athens with their nature that is receding into the past - the pathos of ancient poets and philosophers and mossy traditions. In addition, before the wedding, she swore to the crowned father-in-law that she would not pray before the faces of the saints, as she used to do at home. The old emperor, of course, believed. After all, he could not have known that Irina brought two icons from Athens and cleverly hid them in her chambers, which was then considered a serious state crime in the Eastern Roman Empire …
Iconoclasm
Promotional video:
Since the II century, icons have replaced sacred books for the people, because few people knew how to read at all. In churches, ordinary people first of all went to kiss the faces of saints in gilded frames. They believed that if you attach the sacrament to an icon, then it seems like you receive it from the hands of a martyr with a blessing. Some, sometimes, strove to scrape off a piece of paint from the image of the miracle worker, dip it into the Eucharistic wine and so drink it for greater goodness. To the authorities, all these unpretentious folk customs seemed to be echoes of paganism. Emperor Leo III generally considered the excessive "veneration of icons" to be the culprit of all troubles and in 726 issued an iconoclastic decree. And then it began … “The icons plunged - some into the swamp, others into the sea, still others into the fire, and others were cut and shattered with axes. And those icons that were on the church walls - some were cut off with iron,others were covered with paint,”- this is how iconoclasm was described in the life of Stephen the New. The people were told: "Do not make yourself an idol and no image … do not worship them and do not serve them …" Like, this is what the biblical commandment says, but you, sinners, have forgotten about it …
In fact, there was pure politics with economics, or, simply put, a step forward for rapprochement with neighbors - Jews and Muslims, in whose temples, as you know, there are no paintings or sculptures depicting saints. Through iconoclasm, the Byzantine emperors wanted to smooth out the religious confrontation, and in the future to subjugate the peoples of non-Christian religions.
There was one more reason. This is the enrichment and strengthening of the Byzantine Church. Priests more and more often received positions of government officials and claimed power. Iconoclasm hit them painfully. The number of monasteries declined, monks fled, priests were exiled. But to ordinary people, all this was alien and not very clear. And not only simple. The daughter-in-law of the Byzantine emperor Irina was not going to obey the decision of the council. She prayed earnestly before her Athenian icons for the birth of her long-awaited son, secretly from all the inhabitants of the royal palace. The boy, who was born in 771, was named after his grandfather Constantine. Five years old, he was crowned as Constantine VI, which only aggravated his sad fate …
What was hiding under the pillow
Irina knew how to wait. For 12 whole years - during the life of the old emperor, the furious iconoclast Constantine V, and after his death - she managed to hide her real thoughts and feelings. And she hid her icons under the pillow, where they were once discovered by her husband, Emperor Leo IV. Actually, until this moment she was a quiet believing woman, did not touch anyone, did not encroach on anyone, and her holiness (had this find not happened) would have been humanly understandable (as she could, fought for her faith). But the find happened, and a scandal arose, the empress was threatened with disgrace. It was then that a series of bloody events began.
Irina's husband suddenly died. And an absurd legend was launched among the people that Leo allegedly ordered to get the crown from the grave of Emperor Heraclius, put this sacred antiquity on his head and, having received a portion of cadaveric poison, became covered with deadly ulcers.
The doctors would hardly have believed it. But stories of ulcers hinted at poisoning.
Although, of course, not only Irina had both the opportunity and the motive. However, the coincidence is incredible: a fatal find - a scandal - the death of a spouse.
As a result, the widow, having dealt with other contenders for the throne from among her husband's relatives, begins to rule as regent with her nine-year-old son-emperor. Soon, monasteries open, exiled monks return, believers kiss icons and sing psalms to the glory of Irene.
Meanwhile, the young emperor is already 12 years old. The regent's mother finds him a bride. This is the eight-year-old daughter of Charlemagne named Rotruda. She is brought to Constantinople, taught Greek, betrothed to Constantine …
Irina convenes an Ecumenical Council. But before she can start it, iconoclastic fighters appear in the Church of the Holy Apostles … However, she knows how to wait. And a year later, in the presence of 3 thousand bishops, the icon was solemnly delivered to the next council! The iconoclasts were officially anathematized, and the image of the Savior shone over the gates of Constantinople …
Execute, no mercy
And then strange things begin to happen in the Byzantine state. Irina liquidates the engagement of her son to the daughter of King Charles. Constantine is in despair, he loves the French princess Rotrude, and mom is forcing him to another bride! And this despite the fact that Karl, the patron saint of the clergy, the spread of Christianity, the founder of schools at churches and monasteries, and most importantly - by no means an iconoclast. Such a relative would certainly support an ardent Christian woman! But this time it’s not a matter of faith. The defeat of Byzantium in Northern Italy and the victory of Charles there showed that she, Irina, was weak and defenseless against this king. It turns out that power is dearer to her and more important than the happiness of her son, and “religion was more a means than an end” (German historian of the 18th century Friedrich Schlosser).
Constantine, meanwhile, prepares a conspiracy against his mother, but loses to her. The 18-year-old legitimate emperor is punished as a naughty boy by sitting in a dark room of the palace and, humiliated, released into the light of day after a week or two. But, having heard that Irina will not transfer full power to him until her grave, he again makes plans to overthrow her. The soldiers support him, refusing to swear in to put the name of the regent before the name of Constantine. Irina was exiled to a remote palace for two years. After her return, she and her son rule together, but closely with him on the same throne. As a result, Irina orders to blind Constantine! This takes place on August 15, 797 in the Porphyry bedroom, where her son was born 26 years ago!
It seems that the crippled emperor was quickly forgotten. Even the chroniclers don't really know what happened next. Either the blind man soon dies from his injuries in prison, or, exiled to the monastery, lives for another eight years with his beloved Theodotus, the only living soul in the whole empire who did not abandon him alone … But everyone betrayed Irina. True, not immediately. She rules for another 5 years, but, ultimately, yesterday's supporters send her to hell. According to legend, on the island of Lesvos, an exile repents and irrigates a tree planted in memory of Constantine with tears. And he does this until his death, "loving God and His righteousness more than his own son …" This is what Irina's life says - after all, she is still considered a saint who fought "for the true faith" "martyrically." True, in a purely human way, it turns out that this woman still tormented others more.
Ludmila MAKAROVA