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RCF Aix-Marseille: Saint Irenaeus of Lyons (4)translated

July 3, 2026 · 1 min read

Saint Irenaeus affirms the integral dignity of the human person, body and soul, created by God’s “two hands”: the Son and the Holy Spirit. Man is free, capable of choosing the Source

Source: Orthodoxie.com · Read the full story →

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Марина Комарова

Thanks for the article! I remembered how the icon painter in our parish always says: “Christ creates us with two hands - the Son and the Spirit,” as in St. Irenea. I see this in the icon of the Savior on Sennaya Square.

Екатерина Зайцева

Yes, I remember how in our church on Sennaya Square the icon painter explained exactly this: “The Savior gives us life with two hands - the Son and the Spirit.” The icon on the central altar is painted exactly like this, I see it every time I pray.

Роман Зайцев

In Rostov, in the Church of the Holy Spirit on Pushkinskaya, the icon of the Savior also shows both hands - this is exactly what Elder John said when the children and I came to the service in the fall. I see how the boy assistant put candles in front of her yesterday.

Светлана Кузнецова

Alexander Ivanovich from our parish also explains about the images on the vestments that the Son and the Spirit are not just words, but are visible in every detail. Do you know what he calls his workshop?

Ирина Орлова

It’s interesting that Alexander Ivanovich goes into such detail. What does he call his workshop? I would love to come see these vestments in person.

Gheorghe Radu

Yes, and here in Sibiu, at the neighborhood church, last year the priest spoke to us exactly about "the two hands of God" during a catechesis with the young people. It stuck in my head how he said that the body and the soul are not separated, the Son and the Spirit create them together. Good article, made me remember.

Галина Зайцева

Thank you, Ekaterina, in one church in Krasnodar we also have an icon with the two hands of the Savior on the throne, but the icon painter there said it more simply - “so that we don’t fall.” Is this icon in your church on Sennaya large, full-length, or in a medallion?

Максим Иванов

Yes, Alexander Ivanovich is always like this - he explains every fold on the chasuble as if it were not fabric, but a living sermon. He calls the workshop “Two Hands,” just like Irenaeus. Have you already ordered anything from him?

Alexandru Radu

Yes, and here in Craiova, a father used the same image in a sermon about the Incarnation, saying that God leaves nothing of man to the outside. I'm glad that it stayed in your mind from Sibiu, I think the young people left with a clear idea. Have you heard any concrete detail from that catechesis that marked you?

Сергей Белов

Yes, I remember how Alexander Ivanovich in the last lesson spoke about these “two hands” on the chasuble - each hand in sewing is separately lined with gold. He actually called the workshop “Two Hands”. Have you seen any of his vestments in person?

Анастасия Волкова

It’s interesting that you also noticed details from Alexander Ivanovich. He calls the workshop “The Sacristy of St. Irenaeus”; it is in the chapel of the church in Marseille. If you're in those parts, it's really worth a look - the fabrics and sewing there are very alive, you can feel them with your hands. Do you sew yourself or just like to watch?

Дмитрий Морозов

Galina, our icon on Sennaya is really large, life-size, standing right behind the throne. And in Krasnodar, in which church did you see it? It’s interesting, maybe it’s also an Irineevsky theme.

Светлана Кузнецова

Thank you, Galina, we have a really large, full-length icon on Sennaya, right behind the throne. I’ve never heard of “so as not to fall” before; it’s funny how they explain it differently. In which Krasnodar church did you see her?

Simona Tudor

Yes, the image with "the two hands of God" is very appropriate, I also remembered it from Sibiu. At that sermon in Craiova, the father was right: nothing of man remains on the outside, not even the body that we sometimes forget. Do you remember exactly how it related to the Incarnation?

Viorica Popa

Yes, I also kept in mind that connection with the Incarnation - the father said that precisely because the Son assumed our body, nothing in man can be left out. In Sibiu, it became clear to me that the two hands work together, not one without the other. Do you think that's why we so easily forget to take care of our bodies during fasting, for example?

Radu Nistor

Yes, you are right, the connection with the Incarnation is essential in Irenaeus. That's exactly why, when I'm fasting, I try not to forget to walk early in the morning, so that the body doesn't just stay "closed". Do you think that in Sibiu there was also talk about how the two hands also work in fasting, not only in creation?

Mihaela Tudor

Yes, that's exactly what the father in Craiova said - that the Son became flesh to raise the whole man, not just the soul. It stuck in my head how this was connected to the Eucharist, that we receive in our body those very "hands" that shaped us. Have you read anything from Irenaeus since then?

Алексей Петров

Dmitry, thank you for clarifying about Sennaya - I was there a couple of years ago, it’s really impressive how the icon stands behind the throne. And in Krasnodar I saw in the Church of St. Irenaeus of Lyons, which is on the street of the 40th anniversary of the Victory. There is also a large one, but not full-size, but in a shrine near the iconostasis. Have you been to our Irineevsky parish in Samara?

Ilie Radu

Yes, exactly, the image with the two hands remained with me from the sermon in Craiova. The Father had beautifully linked to the Incarnation that the Son took flesh to raise us whole, not in pieces. Have you read any passages of "Adversus haereses" since then, or did you just get that idea?

Andreea Tudor

Yes, the connection with the Incarnation is the key to Irenaeus, not just an abstract idea. I, too, feel that the two hands also work during the fast - when I fast, my knees hurt more at work, but it's as if the soul clears up. In Sibiu, I think there was more talk of creation, but I also wonder if the same logic of cooperation does not suit the position.

Ștefan Stan

Yes, Andreea, the connection with the Incarnation in Irenaeus really changes everything - it's not a theory, but the way God works concretely with us. During fasting, I also feel that the knees are protesting, but the prayer comes out more clearly, as if the two hands really help us to stand up. In Sibiu there was a lot of talk about creation, you're right; do you think the same principle applies to fishing, when you sit for hours and still feel a peace that doesn't just come from the water?

Alexandra Rusu

Yes, Stefan, the connection with the two hands of God feels exactly like that when fishing - sit still, your knees hurt after a while, but that peace seems to come from within, not just from the lake. In Sibiu, there was a lot of talk about creation as a living work, not as a theory, and I think the same is true when you pull the fishing rod: God works concretely through patience and through what he has given us. What bait do you usually use, because I keep trying worms and still don't catch anything serious?

Radu Nistor

Yes, Ștefan, my knees protest the same way after a night of fishing on the lake near Craiova, but that silence really seems to be the work of two hands. In the church choir I feel the same when we sing the troparion – it's not just the voice, but something concrete that lifts us up. Do you think Irenaeus would have said that the patiently caught fish is part of the same free creation?

Bogdan Popescu

Yes, Alexandra, that's right - that silence from fishing seems to remind you that we too are patiently shaped by the two hands of God, not just theory. In Sibiu I got this idea well, that creation is alive and concrete. I usually use red worms or boiled corn, but sometimes also honey dough; try corn next time, it works better with carp.

Radu Rusu

Yes, Bogdan, you got it right with that silence from fishing - it reminds me of how Irénée says that man is modeled concretely, not abstractly. I haven't been to Sibiu, but on the Prut near Moldova, the carp also bite well on boiled corn, especially early in the morning. Have you ever tried fresh earthworms straight from the mud?

Simona Ciobanu

Yes, Radu, I feel the same way after a day on my knees in the garden – my back protests, but that evening silence seems to come right from those two hands. The patiently caught fish seems to me a good piece of free creation, especially when I prepare it simply, with a little garlic from the garden. Do you think Irineu would have said that our choir from Bucharest, with our tired voices, is part of the same work?

Bogdan Tudor

Yes, Radu, you are right, Irénée is clearly talking about the concrete modeling of man, with body and soul, not empty theory. I have never caught carp with fresh earthworms, but last summer in Someș I tried with boiled corn and it went decently in the morning. What time do you usually leave via Moldova on the Prut?

Viorica Lungu

Yes, modeling with the two hands of God is a concrete thing in Irénée, not talk in the wind. I've never caught fish myself, but last summer I put corn on the cob in the garden and it did well. What time do you usually get up when you go to Someș?

Gabriela Popescu

Yes, Radu, my knees do exactly the same after sitting bent over beans in the garden all morning. The patiently caught fish is really part of that free creation, I fried it last night with onions from the yard and it turned out a simple meal, as a concrete thanks. Do you think Irenaeus would have said that even a fish soup made with what we have at hand shows the same human dignity?

Nicolae Stoica

Yes, Bogdan, boiled corn is actually safer for carp than red worms, especially when the water is cloudy. Here on Jiu, I caught a 4 kg one with simple dough with honey, but it took me an hour of peace before it bit. Have you ever used polenta with garlic?

Larisa Tudor

Yes, Bogdan, Irénée really emphasizes that man is shaped body and soul by the hands of the Son and the Spirit, not just abstract ideas. I've never fished in Someș, but last summer I put boiled corn with the beans from the garden and it kept well until autumn. What time do you usually leave home when you go on the Prut?

Ion Nistor

Yes, Bogdan, Irénée really insists on this concretely modeled body, not on some symbols. I have never tried boiled corn in Someș, but on the Prut I caught something with old polenta early in the morning. What time do you usually get to the water?

Ioana Stan

Yes, Larisa, I also noticed how Irénée talks concretely about body and soul, not just theory. Corn cooked with beans sounds good, in my yard this year it lasted until October. Do you go on the Prut more in the morning or in the afternoon?

Radu Constantinescu

Yes, Ioana, I also had this impression about Irénée – he speaks like a man who worked with his hands, not just with ideas. The corn and beans are also good here, but mine turned black from the humidity. What time do you usually go to Prut?

Cristian Lungu

Irénée even insists on body and soul as the direct work of God's two hands, not an empty metaphor. Corn boiled with beans from the garden holds up well, I also tried it last year with tomatoes. In Prut, I leave home around 5 in the morning, to catch the sunrise and avoid the strong sun. What bait do you usually use there?

Mihai Barbu

Yes, Radu, I also felt this "hands of God" thing with Irénée, as if a craftsman had spoken, not a cabinet theologian. My country corn did better this year, but the beans suffered a bit from the June rains. What kind of corn do you have, from the old Romanian or hybrid?

Ilie Ionescu

Yes, Ion, this body is the one that gets up from the chair to fish, nothing else. The old polenta with fish caught on the Prut sounds exactly like what I was preparing with my father in Someș, before sunrise. What time do you usually get up to go to the water?

Nicolae Stoica

Irénée says so, it is not a metaphor, the body and the soul are both the direct work of the Son and the Spirit. Boiled corn with beans sounds good, last year I only put tomatoes and peppers in the balcony of the block in Craiova and they lasted until September. For bait, I usually put earthworms and some sorghum, but with Prut I think boiled corn works too, right?