Bio

 

Not much is known of Ignatius before his arrest for being Christian, but there are several theories that he was one of the children that Jesus took in his arms while preaching. Another theory says that he and his friend and colleague St. Polycarp were companions and learned from St. John, and that St. Peter himself may have appointed Ignatius as Bishop of Antioch. It is likely that Ignatius was a convert to the faith at a young age, and we do know that he was Bishop in Syria when the Emperor Trajan decided he would unite his empire by making sure all people worshipped Roman gods. When he would not give up his Christian faith, he was arrested, put in chains, and sent to Rome to be put to death by wild animals in the arena.

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It is unclear why he was taken on so long a journey in chains across land rather than on a short boat voyage, but because the soldiers walking with him stopped in so many cities along the way that weren't on a direct path, we can assume they were tending to other business and just had Ignatius along with them. Because of this, though, Ignatius was able to speak to large groups of Christians while stopped in those cities, and speak to individuals almost daily. He was even able to stop in Smyrna where Polycarp was bishop, and they spent much time together. He wrote a total of seven letters inspiring and encouraging the Christians. In them, he discussed many teachings and ideas important to the Catholic Church today. He is characterized as an extremely energetic, passionate, and fearless man, who did not even want his fellow Christians to mourn his martyrdom.

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When he finally arrived in Rome, he was taken to the Flavian Amphitheater and thrown in with wild animals, suggested by St. Jerome to be lions, as entertainment for the Romans. His remains were taken back to Antioch later by a few other Syrian Christians.