Irene Lekapene (born Maria; Bulgarian: Ирина Лакапина, Greek: Μαρία/Ειρήνη Λεκαπηνή, died c. 966) was the Empress consort of Peter I of Bulgaria.

[1] To prove himself a worthy successor to his father both at home and in the eyes of foreign governments, Bulgaria's new emperor Peter I made a show of force by invading Byzantine Thrace in May 927, but showed himself ready to negotiate for a more permanent peace.

Romanos seized the occasion and proposed a marriage alliance between the imperial houses of Byzantium and Bulgaria to end the War of 913–927.

In October 927 Peter arrived near Constantinople to meet Romanos and signed the peace treaty, marrying Maria on November 8.

To signify the new era in Bulgaro-Byzantine relations, Maria was renamed Irene ("peace").