Ignatius of Antioch

Saint Ignatius of Antioch (also known as Theophorus) (AD. 35-107)See "Ignatius" in The Westminster Dictionary of Church History, ed. Jerald Brauer (Philadelphia:Westminster, 1971) and also David Hugh Farmer, "Ignatius of Antioch" in The Oxford Dictionary of the Saints (New York:Oxford University Press, 1987). was the third Bishop or Patriarch of Antioch and a student of the Apostle John.  En route to his martyrdom in Rome, Ignatius wrote a series of letters, including one to Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, who had also known John. These letters are an example of the theology of the earliest Christians.  Important topics addressed in these letters include ecclesiology, the sacraments, and the role of bishops.

Ignatius' feast day is observed on 17 October in Western Christianity and 20 December in Eastern Christianity.

Ignatius became Bishop of Antioch after Saint Peter and Evodius, who died around AD 67.  
Besides the Latin name, Ignatius, he also called himself Theophorus ("God Bearer"), and tradition says he was one of the children Jesus took in His arms and blessed. Ignatius was most likely a disciple of the Apostle John.The Martyrdom of Ignatius

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.  Ignatius based his authority on living his life in imitation of Christ.

 Martyrdom 
Ignatius was arrested by the authorities and transported to Rome under trying conditions:

He died as a martyr in the arena. This was during the reign of Trajan. The Roman authorities hoped to make an example of him and thus discourage Christianity from spreading. Instead, he met with and encouraged Christians who flocked to meet him all along his route, and he wrote seven letters to the churches in the region and one to a fellow bishop.

References

Holy Letters and Syllables, the function and character of Scripture Authority in the writings of St Ignatius (Contains biography Ignatius as well. Doctoral thesis University of the Orange Free State 1997, Dutch, pdf) 

 Other websites 
 Early Christian writings: on-line texts of Ignatius' letters
 Catholic Encyclopedia: St Ignatius of Antioch; the manuscript traditions and the controversy over authenticity
 The Short Syriac Version  
The Ecclesiology of St. Ignatius of Antioch by Fr. John S. Romanides
Saint Ignatius 
 Opera Omnia by Migne Patrologia Graeca with analytical indexes

Category:30s births
Category:107 deaths
Category:Christian saints