St Ignatius of Antioch

On 20 December in the Maronite Saints calendar we venerate St Ignatius of Antioch. He is a very important early Church Father. Antioch later became the area where the Maronite Church began and flourished. 

Ignatius was one of the very earliest Christian disciples. He is said to have been a student of John the Apostle. He was the third Bishop of Antioch and was martyred in the early second century, while travelling to Rome. According to Christian tradition he met his martyrdom by being fed to wild beasts.

Of course we are indebted to the great early disciples, such as Ignatius, for taking the message of Christ out into the world and in the face of great danger. Their work converted many of the earliest Christians.

St Ignatius of Antioch was also an early Christian apologetic. In his collection of letters he addressed matters such as the sacraments, false teaching, obedience to Bishops, martyrdom and the preeminence of the See of Rome.  He described the Church of Rome as “worthy of being deemed holy, and which presides over love, is named from Christ, and from the Father”

His letters are widely available and we encourage you to read them.

Perhaps many of us struggle with family and friends who are far from the Church. St Ignatius advises…

"Keep on praying" for others too, for there is a chance of their being converted and getting to God. Let them, then, learn from you at least from your actions.

Ignatius’ letter to the Ephisians