eirnía

Eirnía (Greek: εἰρήνια) is a noun in Greek that denotes a state or quality of peace, calm, or harmony. It can refer to inner tranquility, social concord, or the absence of conflict. In classical and post-classical Greek, related forms appear in poetry, philosophy, and theology, where eirnía is often contrasted with strife or war. The term is derived from the Greek word eirēnē, meaning “peace,” with the suffix -ía forming an abstract noun that indicates a quality or condition.

In English-language scholarship, eirnía is encountered primarily in discussions of Greek lexicon, philology, and the philosophical or religious concept of peace. It is distinct from eirēnē itself, which names peace as a state or condition, whereas eirnía emphasizes the experiential quality of peacefulness or the sense of quiet. The term can appear in translations of Greek works or in analyses of religious or philosophical notions of reconciliation and harmony.

In modern Greek, the common word for peace is eirēnē; eirnía is largely historical or scholarly in contemporary usage. Related forms include the adjective eirenikós and the noun eirènikí or eirenikós, which describe pacific or reconciliatory tendencies and are used in references to eirenic thought or movements that seek unity among diverse groups.

See also: peace (eirēnē), eirenics, ecumenism.