One of the best known saints named Irene is the Greek Saint Irene ("Holy Peace"). She and her sisters, Saint Agape ("Holy Love") and Saint Chionia ("Snow-White"), were three young girls of Thessalonica. Irene's Acts say that she was caught in possession of the Scriptures despite a prohibition issued by Emperor Diocletian in 303 A.D..

Following the martyrdom of her sisters, Irene was also commanded to deny the Christian faith. Like her sisters, she refused. Therefore, the provincial governor, Dulcitius, sent her to a bordello. When she remained unmolested, though exposed naked and chained, she was put to death. Some accounts say Irene was burned to death like her sisters. Others claim that she died when an arrow pierced her throat.

Irene is venerated more in the Eastern Orthodox Church than in the Roman Catholic Church. The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates a feast day honoring Saint Irene on 5 May.[1]

The Greek island of Santorini is named for Saint Irene.

With thanks to Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Irene