Ignatius 			October 17
Bishop of Antioch, Martyr
Only a few of the details of the life of Ignatius of Antioch are known, and they are almost entirely restricted to his journey from Antioch to martyrdom in Rome about 107. According to Eusebius, Ignatius was the third bishop of Antioch, from about 69 CE, but we know nothing of his episcopate in the large and prosperous city of Antioch.
We also know nothing of the charges on which Ignatius was arrested, or exactly why he was sent to Rome for execution. Ignatius was sufficiently well-known and respected to receive deputations from local Christian churches as he passed on his way to Rome. Ignatius also took the opportunity of writing to the churches in Asia Minor along the way. His seven letters survive, and it is for these that Ignatius is justly famous. Once Ignatius had left Troas, we have no further certain information on him, though tradition says that he was eventually executed in Rome under the emperor Trajan.
The letters of Ignatius shed a lot of light on life in the early church, coming as they do from the leader of one of its significant centres. Several things concern Ignatius. One of the most interesting is his attitude to his own martyrdom. It is obvious that he regarded his impending death as the best way of demonstrating his faithfulness as a disciple. He wanted to follow the footsteps of his master completely, and warned his readers not to intervene with the authorities in an effort to seek a reprieve. Ignatius was also very concerned about correct teaching in the church. His letters indicate a high level of debate about the person of Christ. Ignatius had strong words for those who treated Christ as a kind of divine visitor who had no clear associations with humanity. He had equally strong words for those who seemed to remain locked into their Jewish traditions and customs, seeing Christ as simply a prophetic figure. The conflicts of the day also led Ignatius to place heavy emphasis on the authority of the bishop and clergy as the key to the unity of the church. Ignatius’ stress on his own position as sole bishop helped encourage the idea throughout the church.
For Liturgical Use
We know little about Ignatius other than what can be gleaned from the seven letters he wrote to churches in Asia Minor while on his way to martyrdom in Rome about 107. The letters show a passionate yearning to follow the way of Jesus, even to death. Ignatius also placed great emphasis on the unifying authority of the bishop as a way of avoiding divisive conflicts over Christian teaching.
Sentence
Support me Lord according to your promise, so that I may live, and let me not be disappointed in my hope.		Psalm 119:116
Collects
Holy and immortal God,
your servant Ignatius
longed to be one with Christ
and urged that Christ’s body should be one;
grant that, feeding on the bread of God,
we may seek the unity of the Spirit
in the bond of peace;
through Jesus Christ our Redeemer.

God of Ignatius the fiery bishop
and all that martyr throng,
help us, should we be tested as they were tested,
to perform as well as they.
Psalms	31:1-9	133
Readings
Isaiah 35:8-10		The holy way
1 John 5:6-12		Life found in the Son
John 12:20-26		The servant one with the master
Post Communion Sentence
Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death.	
				Philippians 1:20