Irenaeus was born around the year 130. Educated at Smyrna, he became the disciple of St Polycarp, bishop of that city. He was ordained at Lyons France and shortly thereafter, he was made bishop of that city. He composed works defending the Catholic faith against errors of the Gnostics. It is said that he received the martyr’s crown around the year 200. – Christian Prayer 1990, p 1158
