saint
St Ignatius of Antioch
Ἰγνάτιος Ἀντιοχείας · Игнатий Антиохийский
Bishop of Antioch and Apostolic Father (c. 35–c. 108), martyred in Rome; author of seven letters written en route to martyrdom, foundational texts on the Eucharist, episcopacy, and Christian unity. Also known as Theophoros (the God-bearer). Feast day 17 October (West) / 29 January (East).
Mentioned in 14 passages.
(1), ST. (called THEorHorus), Oct. 17, the second bishop of Antioch (c. A.D. 70-c. 107), between Evodius and Hero [Evopius (1), Hero (1)]. He is sometimes reckoned the third bishop, St. Peter being in that case reputed the first. As one of the series of Antiochene bishops he will be found in Bosch (Pat. Ant. in Boll. Acta SS. Jul. iv. introd. p. 8) and Le Quien (Or. Chr. ii. 700).
The question of the life and writings of Ignatius, including the connected subject of the Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians, has been deseribed by M. Renan as the most difficult in early Christian history next to that of the fourth
gospel. We propose to introduce the reader to the present condition of this problem hy first setting down what is known of'the matter from sources whose date and authorship is ascertained ; proceeding then to consider the professed histories of the saint contained in the various Acts of his martyrdom; and discussing lastly the epistles in the various forms in which they successively presented themselves to the modern world, assigning to each form, with what certainty we may, its proper antiquity.