[1] Like other Russian princesses of her time,[2] Irina grew up secluded from men and the world outside of the terem, where she was taught reading, writing, and needlework.

Valdemar was imprisoned in an attempt to change his mind, until 1645 upon the death of Michael I and Alexis I acceded to the throne.

Irina was close to her brother, Tsar Alexis, who mentions her before his wife and children in his letters and seem to have regarded her as the first lady of the family.

After this, she spent more time on an estate which she had inherited from her grandmother, Xenia Shestova, outside of Moscow.

She devoted her life mainly on her estate, and showed support for the Old Believers, whom she on several occasions saved from execution.