St. Irenaeus was born around 125 A.D. His passion for spreading the true Christian message - grounded in Scripture and passed down through the Apostles - made him a hero in the fight against the false teachings of Gnosticism. Irenaeus compares the scriptures to a beautiful jeweled mosaic, and says heresy is a shabby imitation. For this reason, Irenaeus is often shown holding a bible with a jeweled cover.
Feast Day: June 28
Patronage: Apologists, Catechists, Jewelers
