Yesterday (Sunday 23 Aug) was the feast of St. Irenaeus of Lyons. His best known work – Against Heresies – is a detailed defense of Christianity against Gnosticism.

He is also known (perhaps not well enough) for chastising Victor then Bishop of Rome for over-stepping his authority, and lack of charity over the controversy over the date of Pascha. At that time (2nd/3rd centuries) the Asian churches celebrated Pascha on 14 Nisan regardless of the day it fell on. Victor found this unacceptable and unilaterally excommunicated them all. There is some suggestion that he did not like the fact that ethnic Asian communities in Rome were not giving heed to his authority – and were instead continuing to follow their own custom. Irenaeus upbraided Victor for not respecting local custom, and for causing dischord where previously there was none.

Ireneaus is also known for an important teaching called Recapitulation – also known as the Adam/Christ Paralell. This teaching extends (in Irenaeus’ own writings) to the Eve/Mary Parallel and becomes an important foundation for later developments in Soteriology and Mariological thinking.