Irina's Day. What can and cannot be done on April 29, 2026?

On April 29, 2026, the memory of the three biological sisters who accepted martyrdom — Agapia, Irina, and Chionia — is honored.

This day is named after Irina the Seedling.

It is customary to plant seedlings in gardens, as it is believed that they will take root well. The second name — Arina, Take the Banks — is associated with the season of river floods.

Agapia, Irina, and Chionia lived in the late III — early IV century in the city of Aquileia (Italy) and were biological sisters. In their early youth, they lost their parents and began to lead an orphaned life. However, the girls were very pious and devout, especially since their spiritual mentor was the famous priest Zenon.

They wanted to remain true to their faith and therefore rejected all suitors and drove away all the grooms. And it was revealed to Zenon in a dream that he would soon pass away, and the maidens would accept martyrdom. At the same moment, the great martyr Anastasia, who was also in Aquileia visiting Christians in prison, received a similar revelation. By the way, she was nicknamed the Liberator for her constant visits to prisons.

Then Anastasia hurried to the sisters and began to strengthen them in their faith, understanding that suffering lay ahead of them. And indeed, the prophecy soon came true. Zenon passed away, and the three sisters were captured and brought to trial before Emperor Diocletian. He was struck by the beauty of the girls and offered them to find suitors among his entourage, asking them to renounce their faith. However, they assured him that they did not want to marry and had only one Heavenly Bridegroom — Christ.

None of the sisters were swayed by flattery or threats. They were taken after the emperor to Macedonia, where they were handed over to the governor Dulcitius. He was captivated by the beauty of the girls, became infatuated with them, and promised to release them if they agreed to be with him. But the girls refused, and then Dulcitius decided to secretly seize them by force at night. The sisters were praying together at night when Dulcitius sneaked to the door of their cell. But at that moment, an unknown force struck him, he lost his mind, and ran out of the prison, running into a brewery along the way and getting covered in soot. When he reached home, he frightened his guards and servants, and seeing himself in the mirror, he decided that the sisters had enchanted him and sought revenge.

When the trial began, Dulcitius demanded to strip the girls, hoping to disgrace them. But no matter how hard the soldiers tried to carry out the order, nothing worked — the clothes seemed to have grown to their bodies. And Dulcitius suddenly fell asleep during the trial, and he could only be awakened when he was brought home. Emperor Diocletian was enraged with Dulcitius when he was informed and ordered to hand over the holy maidens to the judge Sisinius.

He separated the sisters and first tortured the older Agapia and Chionia, then ordered them to be thrown into the fire. They thanked the Lord for the martyr's crowns and ascended into the fire. They perished, but their bodies remained unburned, and their clothes did not catch fire. Then Sisinius demanded to bring the younger Irina. He began to frighten her with the fate of her older sisters and then threatened to hand her over for dishonor in a brothel. But the girl proudly said that even if her body were given for dishonor, her soul would not be defiled by renouncing the Lord. And on the way to the brothel, two unusual warriors, illuminated by light, caught up with the convoy and commanded them to lead the maiden to a high mountain, while they themselves would go to the master and report the execution of the order.

They did just that. This incited Sisinius's fury, as he had sent no one after the convoy. He hurried personally to the mountain and saw Irina at its peak, and there was simply no road up. Then one of the warriors shot at the girl; she prayed and died from the wound. Anastasia, upon learning of the girls' death, buried their bodies with honor.

The Meaning of the Holiday

Even the weakest among us are capable of feats in the name of Christ. And there are no excuses not to do so.

What can be done on April 29, 2026