Abba Ho PaterSources
St Ignatius of Antioch
Theophorus (the God-bearer)
Ἰγνάτιος Ἀντιοχείας
Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, was condemned under Trajan and taken to Rome to be martyred. On the way he wrote seven letters to the churches, among the earliest witnesses of the Apostolic Fathers.
- Born
- 1st century (c. 30–35; not known)
- Died
- 20 December 107 (ANF; 116 by another reckoning)
- Feast
- 24 Koiak · Coptic commemoration of his martyrdom, per Wikipedia; the Byzantine Church keeps 20 December.
- Era
- Late 1st – early 2nd century
- See
- Antioch (Bishop)
Life
Ignatius, called Theophorus, was bishop of Antioch; Eusebius makes him the successor of Evodius [2][3]. Tradition makes him and Polycarp fellow disciples of John the Apostle, which ANF reports as tradition rather than fact [1].
According to the ANF introduction he presented himself before Trajan at Antioch about 107, was condemned to the wild beasts and taken to Rome [1]. At Smyrna, where Polycarp was bishop, he wrote to the Ephesians, Magnesians, Trallians and Romans; from Troas he wrote to the Philadelphians, the Smyrnaeans and Polycarp [1]. He was martyred in Rome on 20 December 107; some date it to the same day in 116 [1].
Fifteen letters bear his name; eight are set aside by common consent, while the seven known to Eusebius are generally accepted in their shorter Greek form [1]. In the letter to the Magnesians he urges the faithful to be established "in the Son, and in the Father, and in the Spirit" [4].
Where the sources disagree
Martyrdom: 20 December 107 or 116 (ANF); c. 108 (Wikipedia EN and AR), with later proposals of 135–140 or the 140s. Episcopate: 68–107 (Wikipedia EN), 69–107 (AR). Birth: c. 33 (EN), 35 with a query (AR). The authenticity of the seven letters is still debated.
Timeline
- c. 30–35Born in Syria; the date is not known.[2]
- before 107Bishop of Antioch; Eusebius makes him the successor of Evodius.[2]
- 107Presents himself before Trajan at Antioch and is condemned to the wild beasts.[1]
- 107From Smyrna writes to the Ephesians, Magnesians, Trallians and Romans; from Troas to the Philadelphians, Smyrnaeans and Polycarp.[1]
- 20 Dec 107Martyred in Rome (ANF; some date it to the same day in 116).[1]
Works
- Epistle to the Magnesiansc. 107 (from Smyrna)
- Epistle to the Ephesiansc. 107 (from Smyrna)
- Epistle to the Tralliansc. 107 (from Smyrna)
Words by topic
Do We Worship One God?
Apostolic Fathers1
Topics cited in
Notes
Bibliography
- ANF-01, Introductory Note to the Epistles of Ignatius — Standard English translation (shorter and longer recensions) with introduction.
- Wikipedia (EN), Ignatius of Antioch — Cross-check.
- Wikipedia (AR), إغناطيوس — Cross-check.
- ANF-01, Epistle to the Magnesians — The letter quoted on the site (13:1).