Sts. Ignatius of Antioch and
Polycarp of Smyrna
After the Apostles themselves, there are few other names more famous in
the early Church than those of Sts. Ignatius of Antioch and Polycarp of
Smyrna. Yet, we know virtually nothing about their respective origins and
early lives. The little that we do know is gathered from their various
epistles, written for the spiritual benefit of their flocks in Asia Minor, or
from brief references gathered from other writings composed after their
martyrdoms.
There was a pious tradition that St. Ignatius was the child in the Scriptures
brought to Christ and eulogized by Him as possessing those innocent
qualities necessary for anyone who wishes to enter the Kingdom of
Heaven. This tradition was based on St. Ignatius’ second name,
Theophorus, meaning “bearing God”, however, in most probability it is
nothing more than myth. Nevertheless, his seven epistles do tell us that St.
Ignatius was worthy of the name Theophorus, bearing God in an heroic
soul, in his hatred of heresy and schism, in his care for the unity of the
Church, and in his great yearning for martyrdom.
Other sources tell us some details of the ecclesiastical career of St. Ignatius.
He was certainly a convert, and describes himself, like St. Paul, as “one
born out of time.” He was the second successor to the See of Antioch in
Syria after Sts. Peter and Evodius. According to Eusebius, he was elevated
to this see in the year 69.¹ It is highly possible that in his earlier years St.
Ignatius knew and worshipped with Sts. Peter and Paul, as both spent
considerable time in Antioch. Another tradition holds that it was St. Peter
himself who ordained St. Ignatius a bishop: “…he obtained this office from
those saints, and that the hands of the blessed apostles touched his sacred
head…”²
1
Ecclesiastical History 3, 36.
2
St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on St. Ignatius and St. Babylas, in Schaff, Nicene
and Post-Nicene Fathers, Ist Series, 9:136.
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