At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them, and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
- Matthew 18:1-6.
According to some traditions the little child set in the midst of Jesus’ disciples grew up to become the second Bishop of Antioch, St. Ignatius, successor to Bishop Euodius. Along with St. Polycarp, Ignatius was a disciple of St. John the Apostle. This Apostolic Church Father was called Theophorus (“God-bearer”) because he prayed unceasingly and recognized God’s presence in his heart. As St. Paul wrote:
For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will live in them and move among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
- 2 Corinthians 6:16.
He longed for martyrdom, and voluntarily presented himself before Trajan (Emperor 98-117). He openly professed his Christian faith and was sentenced to be fed to wild beasts in Rome.
He wrote seven epistles: to the Ephesians, Magnesians, Trallians, Philadelphians, Smyrnaeans, Romans, and to Polycarp Bishop of Smyrna. He spoke often of Christian unity, sound doctrine, and of the glorious privilege of martyrdom.
His voluntary submission to his death sentence saying, “May I become agreeable bread to the Lord,” is said to have influenced Trajan to lift his persecution of Christians.
. . . the lions were released and tore him to pieces, leaving only his heart and a few bones. Tradition says that on his way to execution, St Ignatius unceasingly repeated the name of Jesus Christ. When they asked him why he was doing this, St Ignatius answered that this Name was written in his heart, and that he confessed with his lips Him Whom he always carried within. When the saint was devoured by the lions, his heart was not touched. When they cut open the heart, the pagans saw an inscription in gold letters: “Jesus Christ.” After his execution St Ignatius appeared to many of the faithful in their sleep to comfort them, and some saw him at prayer for the city of Rome. [OCA.org]
St. Ignatius’ relics were transferred to Antioch and in 637 were returned to Rome and placed in the church of San Clemente.
Collect for St. Ignatius of Antioch
Almighty God, we praise thy name for thy bishop and martyr Ignatius of Antioch, who offered himself as grain to be ground by the teeth of wild beasts that he might present unto thee the pure bread of sacrifice. Accept, we pray thee, the willing tribute of our lives, and give us a share in the pure and spotless offering of thy Son Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
