Piroska (Arpadhazi) Árpádházi (1088 - 1134)

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Biography

Born Piroska (Prisca) to the King of Hungary, Ladislaus I (László) of Hungary, in Esztergom. Her mother died when she was about two years old. When her father died on 29 July 1095, her Paternal Uncle, Coloman (Kálmá ) of Hungary assumed guardianship of the orphaned Piroska.

Known as Irene of Hungary.

Piroska of Hungary was married in 1104 in Constantinople, to John II Komnenos, a ruler of the Byzantine Empire.^[1]

She converted to the Eastern Orthodox Church and Piroska was renamed Irene. She and John had eight children.^[2]

Children of Saint Irene and John II

• Alexios Komnenos (February 1106 – 1142), co-emperor from 1122 to 1142.
• Maria Komnene (twin to Alexios), who married John Roger Dalassenos.
• Andronikos Komnenos (died 1142).
• Anna Komnene, married Stephanos Kontostephanos.
• Isaac Komnenos (died 1154).
• Theodora Komnene (died 12 May 1157), who married Manuel Anemas.
• Eudokia Komnene, who married Theodoros Vatatzes.
• Manuel I Komnenos (died 1180), emperor from 5 April 1143 – 24 September 1180.

Irene was educated and regarded as a beautiful, wise woman. In her portrait, she is depicted as holding a scroll which is an object of education and intelligence. ^[3]

She founded the Monastery of Pancrotator. She later entered a convent taking the name of Xeni^[4] . She died on 13 August 1134 which is also her feast day. She became known as Saint Irene (Szent Irén) after her death.

Religion

• Religion: converted to the Eastern Orthodox Church

Note

• Born Piroksa or Prisca (St Irene).

Sources

1. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irene_of_Hungary
2. ↑ The primary source about their order of births is the chronicle of Niketas Choniate
3. ↑ Judith Herrin's book, writing in Byzantium: The Surprising Life of a Medieval Empire, says that important women like St. Irene were often shown with scrolls in their hands: “Imperial and high-ranking women in Byzantium were normally well-educated as well as influential… respect and admiration for learning is a defining feature of the empire’s culture.”
4. ↑ A New Dictionary of Saints: East and West. By Michael J. Walsh.Pg. 281

• Holy Women of Byzantium: Ten Saints' Lives in English Translation (Byzantine Saints' Lives in Translation).By Alice-Mary Talbot (Jan 1, 1996)

• A New Dictionary of Saints: East and West. By Michael J. Walsh.

• Byzantine Empresses: Women and Power in Byzantium AD 527-1204. By Lynda Garland (London,1999. Routledge Publishers)

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irene_of_Hungary

• http://www.spiritualtravels.info/articles-2/asia/turkey/istanbul/hagia-sophia-in-istanbul/the-golden-treasures-of-hagia-sophia/