Ignatius is one of the five Apostolic Fathers ( the earliest authoritative group of the Church Fathers ) .
Ignatius is generally considered to be one of the Apostolic Fathers ( the earliest authoritative group of the Church Fathers ) and a saint by the Roman Catholic Church , Lutheran Church , Eastern Orthodox Church and Anglican\/Episcopal Church who celebrate his feast day on October 17 , and the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches , who celebrate his feast day on December 20 .