SAINT IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH,
Bishop and Martyr
FEAST DAY: October 17th in Western
Church and December 20th in Eastern
Church
CANONIZED A SAINT: Acclaimed a
saint by his successor, Saint Heron,
bishop of Antioch in 107 AD
PATRONAGE: Church in Eastern
Mediterranean; Church in North Africa
OUTLINE OF TEACHING
Saint Ignatius was the third bishop of the
Church of Antioch, succeeding Saint Peter and Saint Evodius. He was arrested by
the Roman Emperor, Trajan and sent by ship to Rome. During his journey, Saint
Ignatius wrote seven letters to the various churches along the way, encouraging
Christians along the way to be unified with their local bishops and through the
Eucharist. He was devoured by wild beasts in the year 107 AD in the Flavian
Amphitheater (the Roman Colosseum). His bones were eventually brought back to
Antioch for veneration by the faithful.
SCRIPTURE READING
A reading from Saint Paul to the Colossians
Since you have been raised up in company with Christ, set your heart on what
pertains to higher realms where Christ is seated at God’s right hand. Be intent on
things above rather than on things of earth. After all, you have died! Your life is
hidden now with Christ in God. When Christ our life appears, then you shall
appear with him in glory.
~Colossians 3: 1-4
PRAYER
All-powerful and ever living God,
you ennoble your Church
with the heroic witness of all
who give their lives for Christ.
Grant that the victory of Saint Ignatius of Antioch
may bring us your constant help
as it brought him eternal glory.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
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SAINT IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH,
BISHOP AND MARTYR
INTRODUCTION
As we examine the lives of the saints, we gain great insights from their past
experiences, many of which ultimately led to their canonization. There certainly are
exceptions to this rule, especially the farther back we go in history. One such
exception is the life of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Syria. Little is known of his past,
which certainly played a role in his formation as a Christian. What is known of
Saint Ignatius comes to us through several letters written prior to his martyrdom.
A LITTLE BACKGROUND
Antioch, a town on the coastline of the eastern Mediterranean (in modern day
Turkey), is one of the original patriarchal sees (where a Patriarch or bishop resides)
in Christendom, along with Jerusalem, Alexandria, Egypt and Rome. It was in
Antioch that the first followers of Jesus were called “Christians” (Acts 11: 26).
Prior to being the first bishop of Rome, Saint Peter served for seven years as the
first bishop of Antioch and was succeeded by Saint Evodius, who served as bishop
from 42 – 67 AD. Upon the death of Saint Evodius, Saint Ignatius, who had been
ordained to the priesthood by Saint Evodius became the third bishop of Antioch
upon ordination as bishop by Saint Peter. Saint Ignatius would serve forty years as
bishop of Antioch before his martyrdom in 107 AD.
THRID BISHOP OF ANTIOCH
The date of Saint Ignatius’ birth is unknown, thus his age at the time of his death
in 107 AD is also unknown. It is safe to say that Saint Ignatius was an elderly man
when he was martyred. It is believed that Saint Ignatius was a convert to
Christianity and that he was a disciple of Saint John the Apostle. Although there
really isn’t any more information than what is sited above about his life, there is a
great deal to learn about the heart and faith of Saint Ignatius through his writings.
ARRESTED
Saint Ignatius was arrested during the persecution of the Emperor Trajan and
ordered to be brought to Rome, via ship, where he would be executed. On course to
Rome, the ship sailed along the Asia Minor coast, through Greece before finally
reaching Rome. Each time the ship reached port along the coast of Asia Minor
Ignatius was greeted by throngs of Christians, seeking to be near the future martyr,
hoping to secure his release. While on the ship, Saint Ignatius was treated brutally
by the soldiers of Emperor Trajan as we see in his letter to the Romans; “From
Syria even to Rome I fight with wild beasts, by land and sea, by night and by day, being
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bound amidst ten leopards, even a company of soldiers, who only grow worse when
they are kindly treated.” (Ignatius to the Romans, 5)
SEVEN LETTERS
Along the voyage, Saint Ignatius wrote seven letters to the various churches along
the way to Rome, including to the Church of Smyrna (the others being to the
Ephesians, the Magnesians, the Trallinas, the Philadelphians, the Romans and to
Saint Polycarp) where he befriended Saint Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna (see DTS
website). A deacon that accompanied Ignatius (Deacon Philo) actually wrote the
letters dictated to him by Ignatius, who referred to himself as Theophorus (God
bearer). In the letters, Saint Ignatius writes and teaches about Christ, the structure
of the church and the Christian life. Saint Ignatius writes to the church of Smyrna;
“where the bishop is, there is the Catholic church.” Ignatius also exhorts the church
that; “apart from the bishop, let no one perform any of the functions of the church.”
Ignatius reminds us that our unity is in our submissiveness to the authority of the
local bishop (something that Catholics need to be reminded of today). It is believed
that Saint Ignatius was the first to use the word “Catholic,” meaning, entire, whole,
universal. The Catholic Church is the entirety of the faith. While writing the letters
to the various churches, Saint Ignatius was also trying to combat a growing heresy
in the church known as Docetism, which was a heresy that taught that Jesus only
appeared to die on the cross. The adherers to the heresy claimed that Jesus, being
God, could not have really died, but only appeared to die. The Eucharist was also a
constant theme of Saint Ignatius stating; “it is the flesh of Christ, the gift of God, the
medicine of immortality.” Saint Ignatius also denounces as heretics those “who
confess not that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ.” It is also
through the Eucharist that Christians are united in their faith, which again, is
something that would do most Catholics good to reflect upon.
MARTYRDOM OF SAINT IGNATIUS
When Saint Ignatius arrived in Rome, he was immediately taken to the Flavian
amphitheater (the Roman Colosseum) on the last day of the public games
(December 20th) and was devoured by two fierce loins. It is reported that he was
devoured immediately, leaving nothing by the larger bones. Two Christian sources,
Saint Jerome and Saint John Chrysostom record that the bones of Saint Ignatius
were taken back to Antioch were they were venerated by the faithful. In the year
637, the relics of Saint Ignatius were translated to the Church of Saint Clement in
Rome. The relics of Saint Ignatius are now kept in the Basilica of Saint Peter in
Rome. Usually in Eastern Iconography, martyrs are depicted holding a cross. In
iconography depicting Saint Ignatius of Antioch, he is depicted with two wild beasts,
one on either side, aiding our saint to his eternal reward. The following reading is a
brief description from Saint Ignatius concerning his martyrdom.
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READING
A reading from a letter to the Romans by Saint Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr
I am writing to all the churches to let it be known that I will gladly die for God if
only you do not stand in my way. I plead with you: show me no untimely kindness.
Let me be food for the wild beasts, for they are my way to God. I am God’s wheat and
shall be ground by their teeth so that I may become Christ’s pure bread. Pray to Christ
for me that the animals will be the means of making me a sacrificial victim for God.
No earthly pleasures, no kingdoms of this world can benefit me in any way. I prefer
death in Christ Jesus to power over the farthest limits of the earth. He who died in
place of us is the one object of my quest. He who rose for our sakes is my one desire.
The prince of this world is determined to lay hold of me and to undermine my will
which is intent on God. Let none of you here help him; instead show yourselves on my
side, which is also God’s side. Believe instead what I am now writing to you. For
though I am alive as I write to you, still my real desire is to die. My love of this life has
been crucified, and there is no yearning in me for any earthly thing. Rather within me
is the living water which says deep inside me: ‘Come to the Father.’ I no longer take
pleasure in perishable food or in the delights of this world. I want only God’s bread,
which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, formed from the seed of David, and for drink I crave
his blood, which is love that cannot perish.
Pray for me that I may obtain my desire. I have not written to you as a mere man
would, but as one who knows the mind of God.
POINTS TO PONDER
1.) Saint Ignatius’ view of Christian unity.
2.) How Saint Ignatius encourages the faithful to be submissive to the authority
of their bishops.
3.) Saint Ignatius’ view of the Eucharist.
4.) How would any of us feel if we were able to pray in the presence of the relics
of a saint, such as Saint Ignatius of Antioch? Why does the church take such
great care that relics such as his are preserved?
SOURCES USED
1.) Dictionary of Saints – John Delaney (Image Books, Doubleday, New York ©1980, 1983)
2.) Liturgy of the Hours (Vol. IV) (Catholic Book Publishing Company, New
York - ©1976)
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3.) Lives of the Saints – Alban Butler (Vol. I) (Thomas More Publishing, Allen,
Texas – First Published in 1756 and ©1956)
4.) New Catholic People’s Encyclopedia (Vol.’s I – III) (The Catholic Press,
Chicago, IL - ©1973)
5.) Voices of the Saints – Bert Ghezzi (Doubleday, New York - ©2000)
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