Irene Chrysovalantou

Saint Irene of Cappadocia (fl. 9th century), also known as Irene the Righteous of Chrysovalantou and Irene of Chrysovolantou, was a Byzantine hegumenia. Her feast day is celebrated on July 28 in the Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar.

Life Saint Irene was born in Cappadocia in the Byzantine Empire to a wealthy family who held posts in the imperial court and were influential in Constantinople. She was considered as a prospective bride for the Emperor Michael III (842–867) due to her beauty and virtue, but chose instead to enter the monastery of Chrysovolantou as a young woman, aged about twenty. Irene had a sister who became the wife Emperor Michael's maternal uncle Bardas (brother of Michael's mother Empress Theodora).

Irene was inspired to join the monastery of Chrysovolantou after receiving the blessing of the hermit Saint Ioannikios the Great, who told her: "welcome servant of God, Irene. Go to the capital and rejoice for the Convent of Chrysovalantou needs you to shepherd her virgins." elevated by the wishes of the previous abbess and Methodius I of Constantinople, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.

During a celebration of the feast day of Saint Basil of Caesarea, Irene heard Basil's voice instructing her to eat the fruit that would be given to her by a sailor.