St. Ignatius of Antioch
Feast day: October 17
Born in Syria, Ignatius was bishop of Antioch and a martyr of the early Church. Arrested by Roman authorities during the Trajan persecution, Ignatius was sent to Rome for execution. In the company of soldiers, he set out on the road to the Eternal City. Along the way Ignatius composed epistles (or letters) to the Christian communities of Ephesus, Magnesia, Tralles, Rome, Philadelphia, Smyrna and a farewell letter to Bishop Polycarp. His letters give a glimpse into the early Church and Ignatius’ own spirituality. He was martyred by being thrown to the wild beasts in the Roman Circus. He is patron of the Church of the eastern Mediterranean.
Collect
Almighty ever-living God,
who adorn the sacred body of your Church
with the confessions of holy Martyrs,
grant, we pray,
that, just as the glorious passion of Saint Ignatius of Antioch,
which we celebrate today,
brought him eternal splendor,
so it may be for us unending protection.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
