# Irenaeus

> A second-century bishop who drew the line. Irenaeus decided which gospels counted, built the case for apostolic succession, and spent his career dismantling Gnostic Christianity before it could fracture the church into competing mystery cults.

*2nd-century Greek bishop and Doctor of the Church*

**Canonical URL:** https://fame.am/person/irenaeus

## Identity
- **Profile type:** Academic ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q39631))
- **Category:** Academics
- **Country:** Turkey
- **Born:** 130
- **Died:** 202
- **Status:** deceased
- **Gender:** male

## Bio

Born in Smyrna, Irenaeus heard Polycarp preach—who himself had heard John the Evangelist—placing him two degrees from the source. Chosen as Bishop of Lugdunum (Lyon) in present-day France, he guided Christian communities through southern Gaul while Gnostic sects claiming secret wisdom threatened to redefine the faith. Around 180 he wrote Against Heresies, a systematic takedown of Gnosticism, particularly the teachings of Valentinus. Against claims of hidden knowledge, he offered three pillars: scripture, apostolic tradition, and the teaching of the apostles' successors. He became the earliest surviving voice to insist all four now-canonical gospels were essential. Pope Francis named him a Doctor of the Church in 2022.

## Fame
- **Popularity score:** 60.2 / 100
- **Momentum:** 0.0 / 100  (trend: STABLE)
- **Historical depth:** 25.2 / 100
- **Now attention:** 0.0 / 100
- **Source confidence:** 60.0 / 100
- **Profile completeness:** 70.0 / 100

## Topics
#Religious Figures, #TV Personality, #News Broadcasting, #Philosophy, #Religion, #Ancient History

## Sources
- [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irenaeus)
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q182123)
- [Pantheon 2.0](https://pantheon.world/profile/person/Irenaeus)
- [إيرينيئوس](https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A5%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A6%D9%88%D8%B3)
- [ايريناوس](https://arz.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%B3)
- [San Irenéu](https://ast.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Iren%C3%A9u)
- [Lionlu İriney](https://az.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionlu_%C4%B0riney)
- [Ириней Лионски](https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%98%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%B9_%D0%9B%D0%B8%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8)
- [Ireneu de Lió](https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireneu_de_Li%C3%B3)
- [Irenej z Lyonu](https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irenej_z_Lyonu)
- [Irenæus](https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iren%C3%A6us)
- [Irenäus von Lyon](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iren%C3%A4us_von_Lyon)
- [Ειρηναίος Λουγδούνου](https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%95%CE%B9%CF%81%CE%B7%CE%BD%CE%B1%CE%AF%CE%BF%CF%82_%CE%9B%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%B3%CE%B4%CE%BF%CF%8D%CE%BD%CE%BF%CF%85)
- [Ireneo de Liono](https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireneo_de_Liono)
- [Ireneo de Lyon](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireneo_de_Lyon)
- [Ireneo Lyongoa](https://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireneo_Lyongoa)
- [ایرنئوس](https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D9%86%D8%A6%D9%88%D8%B3)
- [Irénée de Lyon](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ir%C3%A9n%C3%A9e_de_Lyon)
- [Irenaeus](https://fy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irenaeus)
- [Ireneu de Lión](https://gl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireneu_de_Li%C3%B3n)
- [אירנאיוס](https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%90%D7%99%D7%A8%D7%A0%D7%90%D7%99%D7%95%D7%A1)
- [Irenej Lionski](https://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irenej_Lionski)
- [Szent Iréneusz](https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Szent_Ir%C3%A9neusz)
- [Հիրենեոս Լիոնացի](https://hy.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D5%80%D5%AB%D6%80%D5%A5%D5%B6%D5%A5%D5%B8%D5%BD_%D4%BC%D5%AB%D5%B8%D5%B6%D5%A1%D6%81%D5%AB)
- [Երանոս Լիոնացի](https://hyw.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D4%B5%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%B6%D5%B8%D5%BD_%D4%BC%D5%AB%D5%B8%D5%B6%D5%A1%D6%81%D5%AB)
- [Wikiquote](https://cs.wikiquote.org/wiki/Irenej_z_Lyonu)
- [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Irenaeus)
- [Wikiquote](https://it.wikiquote.org/wiki/Ireneo_di_Lione)
- [Wikiquote](https://pl.wikiquote.org/wiki/Ireneusz_z_Lyonu)
- [Wikiquote](https://pt.wikiquote.org/wiki/Santo_Irineu_de_Lyon)

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