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Apostolic & Patristic · Saint
St Ignatius of Antioch
Bishop of Antioch
Apostolic FatherChurch FatherMartyr
c. 50 – c. 110
unknown
Ordained
c. 70
Consecrated Bishop
Antioch
Diocese
Turkey
Country
The Life
St Ignatius was the third Bishop of Antioch in Syria, traditionally a disciple of St John the Apostle, and one of the earliest post-apostolic Christian writers. Arrested under Trajan, he was sent in chains to Rome to be martyred.
On the journey he wrote seven letters that are among the most important witnesses to early belief in the Eucharist, the episcopate, and the unity of the Church. He was thrown to the beasts in the Roman amphitheatre.
Notable Actions
- Wrote seven authentic letters en route to martyrdom (to the Ephesians, Magnesians, Trallians, Romans, Philadelphians, Smyrnaeans, and to Polycarp)
- Earliest writer to use the term 'Catholic Church' (Smyrnaeans 8)
- Strong early witness to the monarchical episcopate and obedience to the bishop
- Called the Eucharist 'the medicine of immortality'
- Martyred at Rome by wild beasts under Trajan (c. 107-110)
Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude of the people also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.
Letter to the Smyrnaeans, ch. 8Portrait: AnonymousUnknown author / Wikimedia Commons