And then there were eight! Welcome, friends, to the Elate Eight. We've moved from 32 to 16 to 8 saints still standing. Or kneeling. But either way, today it's Irenaeus vs. Zechariah, tomorrow Sundhar Singh faces Emily Cooper, on Thursday Elizabeth of Hungary battles Verena of Zurzach, and we round things out on Friday with Philip vs. Nicolaus Zizendorf (who advanced yesterday after defeating Francis Xavier 56% to 44%).
The Elate Eight is also known as the Round of Saintly Kitsch. After basic biographies, quirks and quotes, what else could there be? Now, there are always some folks who take offense at this approach — we call them Kitsch Kranks. Please remember that this round is not meant to belittle or demean our saintly heroes, but to have some fun and gaze in wide wonder at the breadth of devotional practice. So kindly relax and enjoy the spirit of the Madness as we push ever onward toward our goal.
And if you'd find it helpful to review the write-ups from the previous rounds, you can always click the Bracket tab and scroll down to find all the earlier matchups.
Here's your Daily Saintly Showdown with Christian and Michael...
Vote now!
Irenaeus
For a saint whose name does not roll off the tongue and lived almost two centuries ago, there is a lot of memorabilia depicting Irenaeus, his quotes, and his thoughts.
Most known for “The glory of God is a human being fully alive,” Irenaeus is one of only 37 doctors in the Church as declared by Pope Francis in 2021, during the height of the pandemic.
Unique about Irenaeus is his presence in the media. Not many saints can boast that he/she inspired a popular TV show, but Irenaeus did! Instigated by a paraphrase of his memorable statement, “The glory of God is man fully alive,” the TV series, Man Alive, was successfully produced and aired on Canadian TV for 33 years from 1967 to 2000 (currently available for viewing on Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC) and Apple TV + in the UK).
Man Alive looked at faith and spirituality with in-depth features on leading religious figures like Mother Teresa and the Dalai Lama as well as delving into such topical issues as The Holocaust, family relationships, and war. No doubt Irenaeus would have been proud that he sparked deep conversations among people!
In addition to his quotes, Irenaeus is remembered in the typical saintly ways: wood carvings, statues, prayer cards, stained glass windows, and icons.
The Church of St. Irenaeus in Lyon, where he lived and preached, is named for him. It is one of the oldest churches in France.
There are books by him (with surviving pieces on display in an English University library), books about him, and, yes, the usual kitschy items of mugs, hats, t-shirts, and hoodies emblazoned with his most famous quote.
When he died in 202 AD (or thereabouts), Irenaeus was buried under the Church of Saint John in Lyon, which was later renamed St. Irenaeus in his honor. Although the church was destroyed in 1562, relics attributed to St. Irenaeus are located in various places throughout Lyon.
Zechariah
Sadly, Zechariah does not have his own feast day. He shares it with his wife, Elizabeth. It thus makes sense to begin this splendid round of kitsch with this lovely Zechariah and Elizabeth ornament.
Let me just say, Elizabeth aged really well. Also, yay vowels.
And what would a kitsch round be without a keychain? I know woodcuts are tricky, but what exactly is Elizabeth doing with her hands?
Fortunately, we don’t have to linger here. This year it’s all about Zechariah.
Check out this nifty “Handmade necklace, religious Charm Jewelry, amulet, talisman” (exact words and capitalization from the original description, and shared with you for your, um, enrichment).
It’s cool because the icon depicts the OT prophet Zechariah. Not that it matters.
This pillow, however, is in the shape of John the Baptist’s dad. What’s with the tongue?
Zechariah (via Luke) gave us the Benedictus. No fewer than four wineries give us Benedictus wine. Blessed indeed.
Finally, I couldn’t resist, but when Zachariah motioned for a tablet, I wonder if they gave him something like this magic slate.
I mean, the technology is ancient. And it even has an image of the archangel Gabriel to remind Zechariah not to mess it up.
43 comments on “Irenaeus vs. Zechariah”
Thanks for all your work and talent. Job well done
How could anyone not vote for Zechariah? We recite his words in the daily office or Liturgy of the Hours. He was father of John the Baptist who led the way to Messiah Jesus Christ.
Voted for Irenaeus, more for his impact on Christianity and not the kitsch. But also must point out a math error in the write up as Irenaeus lived @18 centuries ago (dying in 202 AD), not 2 centuries ago.
I'm going with Irenaeeus today. His great line - "The glory of God is man fully human, fully alive" echoes down the centuries (of which there are a great many more than two - you guys need a proof reader!) What the world needs now is more human beings fully alive to God, which to me means more of us caring about the rest of us. By the way, thanks for remembering 'Man Alive', one of my all-time favourite TV programs.
Oops, after giving you a jab about needing a proof reader it seems I need one, too. I voted for Irenaeus, not Irenaeeus! (What's that beautiful line of our Lord's - ah, yes, "Judge not that ye be not judged!" - Matthew 7:1)
Zechariah gets the nod from me today - I LOVE the Saintly Kitsch round! 🙂
Love the name, love the saint.
In spite of the great kitsch for Zechariah, my vote goes to Irenaeus. A television programme exploring matters of faith and spirituality is too good to pass over.
It’s hard to believe there were no comments to read before voting today! Perhaps, like me, others are faced with choosing between saints they had chosen in earlier matchups.
While I am impressed with Irenaeus and his way with words (that not only fought the gnostics but led to a modern day tv show!) I have to go with Zechariah, a holy man who deserves recognition and admiration apart from Elizabeth. I can’t imagine how I would have reacted to such a stunning vision and call. Perhaps I am also responding to the idea of the need for silence and perseverance and trust in God’s presence
Irenaeus of Lyons today for all the kitchen & for the Lions clubs i have been a member of.
Irenaeus wrote Against Heresy, cancelling all alternative traditions and ways of believing by labeling them as heretic. It took discovery of the Nag Hamaddi Library to reintroduce many of the texts that were banned. Those texts were carefully hidden by the librarian monks in the monastery at the top of the cliff where the buried texts were found.Go librarians! I'm voting for Zechariah.
I voted for Zechariah because as I have said in every match up that Irenaeus has been in this Lent Madness, Irenaeus had the writings of those he disagreed with destroyed. The only reason we have access to some of those works today is because some people, i.e., monks, hid the writings instead of destroying them. Seriously, Irenaeus was essentially a book burner. It’s really not cool. If you obtain a copy of the Nag Hammadi Library you can read all about what he did to take down those he didn’t agree with in the introduction.
Thanks. I always learn a lot about the different saints.
Half-hearted vote. I cannot get excited about the line-up this season.
I leaned towards Irenaeus because of the TV show (impressive) but that he banned books (bad)... Then I saw the Magic Slate and that cracked me up! One of my all-time favorite toys. Go Zechariah!
This forty year high school teacher could not go with a book burner. ESPECIALLY NOT NOW!
Zechariah continues to get my vote. The Magic Slate sealed the deal, as well as all the things that he did and said. I have friends who named their son Zechariah too, and they wouldn’t do that without good reasons.
Yay for my Saint Irenaeus, whose feast day is June 28 and is also my birthday. Been a huge fan for years, and happy to see him take the lead so far today! Run, sir, Run!
Oh, this indeed is true love's kitsch. Well done, David Creech! And kudos to Neva Rae Fox for her fully alive creativity.
I'm going with Irenaeus. I don't know about the allegation of book burning, but he was a Christian leader when it was hard to be a Christian in a non-Christian society. And, he had to defend the church community against secretive interlopers who made all kinds of weird assertions about Christ's life and teaching. Certainly a defender of open confession and teaching, evangelism, and early Christian tradition. Should the church not explain what it believes and defend it's ranks?
I agree about the poor math or need of a proofreader: how about "nearly two millenia" rather than centuries.
Never-the-less hearty thanks very much to the celebrity bloggers for all l am learning during Lent Madness.
In the tender compassion of our God,
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
From the Canticle of Zechariah (Luke 1:68-79)
I started today, thinking yes, Irenaeus! but David, you did such a good job searching, especially the Jewellery Charm thing and the pillow, and the magic slate, that well, I commend your efforts in giving Zechariah a present day face and voice. I will name my next parrot after him.
I voted for David Creech! My dude, well done. I have to say it plainly, though: I am creeped out by the medallion showing Elizabeth as no more than 20, yoked to the geezer. Depicting women as never aging only reinforces misogyny, and the miracle is negated. I’m pretty sure the story of John the Baptizer is about overthrowing patriarchy and empire, not about getting your mom botox. Makes me realize some kitsch is there to tame the divine and make it marketable. I doubt this power couple would have been so easily assimilated to worldly profiteering. But I am sending the parents of John forward, and I hope they are in heaven fighting sexism (and all the other evils empire afflicts us with).
Thanks for the fun and informative write ups. Voting for Zechariah today. Cool kitsch (especially the slate! XD ) and the Benedictus. Being struck dumb in an encounter with the messenger of the living God, and responding with a wholehearted song of praise in humble awe and wonder when speech was restored - that’s lived witness that we remember and echo to this day. And as others have also commented, while Irenaeus also had quotable quotes, am not voting for a book burner and silencer of those on alternate paths. There is too much of that in the world now, as in any age.
So Zechariah, with his initial honest incredulity turned to joyful acceptance and witness, has won my vote today.
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maybe it's me my somewhat 'naughty' brain but have to go with Zechariah and David C - what exactly is Elizabeth doing with her hands???
I AM NOT A ROBOT!!! Why do I need to attempt to see a blurry sometng in a dark picture for ten minutes to vote? Would it have been easier if I were a Moravian?
Love how the SEC has really stepped it up this year! Tough match for me as my middle name is Irene, but my mom and daughter are both Elizabeths so I have to stay with Zechariah this round.
My vote goes for the mensch and good dad today. After all, who among us with offspring have not had moments when parenthood rendered us utterly speechless?