Irene of Santarem (fl. 7th c.)

Spanish saint. Name variations: Irene of Santárem. Flourished during the 7th century; lived at Tomar in Estremadura.

Much revered in Spain and Portugal, Irene of Santarem lived in the 7th century, during the reign of King Chindaswinth. She was born of nobility, raised for the most part in a convent, and received her later education from a monk from the abbey of Our Lady, who gave her lessons at home.

Living a sequestered life, Irene ventured out only once a year—on the feast of Saint Peter—to pray in church. On one such outing, she was spotted by the noble Britald who was smittened at first sight but knew that his love would be unrequited. In deep despair, Britald's health gave way, and he was expected to die of consumption. Irene, hearing of his plight, visited his bedside, telling him that she had vowed to remain a virgin and promising him that they would meet in Paradise. Heartened by the belief that Irene surely would become his wife had she not promised herself to God, Britald made a speedy recovery.

Meanwhile, Irene's monk from the abbey was also obsessed with her. When he made his passion known, she rebuffed him and gave up her lessons. Steeped in resentment, the monk circulated a rumor that Irene was pregnant. Britald, who believed Irene had lied, was consumed with jealousy and hired an assassin to kill her. Thus, it came to be that Irene was murdered by the thrust of a sword and dumped into the Tagus river, where she was later recovered by the Benedictines near the town of Scalabis. The name of the town was subsequently changed to St. Irene, or Santárem.