St. Ignatius of Antioch

“Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.” -Mark 9:36-37

St. Ignatius of Antioch is one of the earliest Church Fathers that we have, having been born around 30 A.D. and martyred 107 A.D. There is a tradition that says that when Jesus was talking about the toddlers and they were coming to him, that St. Ignatius was one of them.

He was ordained as Bishop of Antioch by St. Peter the Apostle and he was very zealous for the Lord. This led him to be called Theophorus (God-Bearer).

He was arrested by the Romans because of his faith and was led to Rome to be martyred. On his way to Rome he stopped in Smyrna and strengthened the Christians there. He also wrote seven epistles, several of them from Smyrna and a couple from Troas. These sevens letters are the letters to the churches of Ephesus, Magnesia, Tralles, Rome, Philadelphia, Smyrna, and to Polycarp Bishop of Smyrna. These letters were treasured as soon as they were written because St. Polycarp himself started collecting them right after they were written. These letters are still available in their original Greek today and have been translated into English.

St. Ignatius wanted to be martyred to the degree that he wrote to the Roman Christians in advance not to do anything to prevent it. He finally arrived in Rome after passing through Asia Minor and met with the Christians there. He was led into the arena, probably the Colosseum, and thrown to the lions who ripped him up and made his martyrdom complete. After he was martyred, he appeared to many Roman Christians to comfort them.

He is one of the Apostolic Fathers, which are the earliest group of Christians writing after the New Testament. His seven letters are included and are very deep for spiritual instruction. I have included a few of his sayings below for your benefit.


“Love is the way leading up to God.” -Epistle to the Ephesians 9

“It is fitting, then, not only to be called Christians, but to be Christians.” –Epistle to the Magnesians 4

“Study, therefore, to be established in the precepts of the Lord and the apostles that so all things, whatsoever you do, may prosper both in the flesh and spirit; in faith and love; in the Son and the Father, and in the Spirit.” –Epistle to the Magnesians 13

“Do not be deceived, my brethren. If any man follows him that makes a schism in the Church, he shall not inherit the kingdom of God. If anyone walks according to a strange opinion, he agrees not with the passion.” -Epistle to the Philadelphians 3

“I endure everything because He Himself, who is the perfect Human, strengthens me.” –Epistle to the Smyrnaeans 4

“Let not a high place puff anyone up: for that which is worth all is faith and love, to which nothing is to be preferred.” –Epistle to the Smyrnaeans 6

“Flee from divisions as the beginning of evils.” –Epistle to the Smyrnaeans 8

“Stand firm, as does an anvil which is beaten. It is the part of a noble athlete to be wounded, and yet to conquer.” –Epistle to Polycarp 3