The Martyrdom Of Ignatius of Antioch
On this historic day (October 17th), one thousand nine hundred and sixteen years ago, we commemorate the remarkable life and profound sacrifice of Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch. A devoted disciple of the apostle John and an eminent bishop presiding over the Antiochan church for nearly four decades, he sealed his faith with martyrdom, as tradition tells us.
It happened in the tumultuous reign of emperor Trajan, a ruler notorious for his persecution of the early Christian community, Ignatius' burgeoning influence drew the unwelcome attention of Roman authorities. In those perilous times, Christianity stood as an outlawed faith, leading to Ignatius' arrest and an inexorable journey toward his gruesome death in the belly of Rome.
After his arrest in Syria, his captors bound him and transported him to Rome, a journey that spanned treacherous lands and tempestuous seas. Ignatius, the embodiment of unwavering faith and zealous leadership in the church, was bound in chains between two Roman soldiers. Paradoxically, the more kindly he treated his captors, the more ruthlessly they treated him. Along this journey, messengers from various churches ran up to his convoy, meeting him with messages of affection and sorrow, serving as a testament to the profound impact of his ministry upon them.
As Ignatius inched closer to his destiny in Rome, he fervently scribed letters of solace and guidance to those who would offer him comfort. Among these missives is a poignant communication addressed to the Christian community in Rome, the very city where he would soon meet his end. In this letter, he implored the Roman believers not to attempt his rescue, offering instead a profound message of devotion to Christ. He said:
"Nearness to the sword is nearness to God; to be among the wild beasts is to be in the arms of God; only let it be in the name of Jesus Christ. I endure all things that I may suffer together with him, since he who became perfect man strengthens me."
Ignatius, at long last, arrived in Rome, as the macabre festivities within the Coliseum were drawing to a close for that day. In haste, he was ushered to the arena and cast before two ferocious lions, who promptly claimed him as their own. As tradition recounts, it was on this day, the 17th of October in the year 107 AD, that Ignatius met his heroic end, leaving behind a legacy of unwavering faith and sacrificial devotion to Jesus Christ that continues to this day.
May we have this kind of boldness and faith today!
