My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
THE HOLY HIEROMARTYR IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH (Part II)
When Saint Ignatios heard the judgment against him, he gave thanks with a great voice to the Lord, saying, "I thank Thee, O Lord and Master, that Thou hast vouchsafed me the honor of perfecting my love toward Thee, and has counted me worthy to be bound with iron chains as was Thine Apostle Paul." With a gladdened heart, he thereupon invested himself with the chains, which he called his spiritual pearls. The brutal cruelty of the soldiers caused them to hurry on their way so that they might dispatch Saint Ignatios as food for the bloodthirsty beasts of the arena. Some of the Saint’s Christian friends from Antioch went directly to Rome, awaiting his arrival. Saint Ignatios was accompanied for most of the way by Deacon Philo and by Agathopous.
When they put in at the harbor of the Romans, the unholy public games and sports were drawing to a close. The soldiers were angry at the slow pace of conveying their prisoner; but the bishop gladly obeyed them as they hurried him forward. As he approached, the faithful ran out to meet him, rejoicing at his arrival in their midst. At the same time, their meeting was bittersweet, for they were to lose him very soon. Thereafter, he was promptly led away to the amphitheater.
The soldiers immediately remanded their prisoner to the city Prefect. The following day, a great pagan holiday, the people assembled from all over. They converged in the capital city not only for the festival but also for a look at the holy man whose fame had spread abroad in every place. All knew the Christian Archbishop of Antioch was to be shown and devoured by wild beasts. The crowds that attended to witness the spectacle were without number. The holy man of God was then escorted into the theater. The Saint then turned without hesitation to the multitude of spectators. Possessed of a valiant and fearless mind, he addressed them: "Men of Rome, witnesses of my contest: you ought to know that neither have I committed a criminal act, nor have I transgressed in anything that is deserving of death. I, however, receive this sentence today voluntarily, gladly, and with rejoicing, that I might attain to the True God for Whom I thirst and yearn to enjoy; inasmuch as I am God’s wheat, ground fine by the teeth of wild beasts that I might become pure and unblemished bread."
After the Saint addressed the crowd, the executioners released the lions. Even as Saint Ignatios had desired and entreated God, the lions caught sight of him, sprang upon him, and devoured the bishop. The creatures left only his large bones; therefore the bellies of the wild animals became his tomb. After the crowds dispersed from the theater and departed, the Christians remained behind so that they might take up and bury the holy man’s relics with honor and reverence. The holy relics were interred in a distinguished place on the 20th of December. With the passage of time, the holy relics of Saint Ignatios were returned to Antioch. In the Synaxristes of the Russians, from the codices at the Vatican Library in observing that the bishop’s heart remained unharmed, cut open that organ. Then–O the Wonder! —they found an inscription of gold written within, showing the name "JESUS CHRIST." Thus, we see that the Saint was true to the name as God-bearer, in both the passive and active sense. The translation of the holy relics of Saint Ignatios is commemorated by the Holy Orthodox Church on the 29th of January. He was buried in Daphne, and later, having been wrapped in linen, removed to Antioch by Emperor Theodosius II (408-450 A.D.). Thus, an inestimable treasure was left to the Holy Church. When the Muslims captured the city of Antioch in 637 A.D., the holy relics of Saint Ignatios were moved to several places for safekeeping.
It is remarked upon that, at his martyric repose, the faithful wept at their loss of him. Their wailing was inconsolable as they devoted their time about his tomb, keeping vigil and chanting continually at the site. Now Saint Ignatios appeared to them in a vision. He embraced them and encouraged them, saying, "Cease lamenting, but rather rejoice." In this manner, he softened their pain and suffering. On other occasions, the faithful beheld him perspiring, even as he had been undergoing the struggle of his martyric contest, and offering prayer for the salvation of the city for all the Christians.
This was the divine love of our God-bearing Father Ignatios, which he demonstrated in both word and deed. Saint Irenaeus (130-200 A.D.) also bears early witness to Saint Ignatios’ importance as an Apostolic Father, citing him in many instances in his own work. Saint Irenaeus also knew of Saint Ignatius’ Martyrdom, and he mentions his Epistles in the following words: "As one of our people said, when Ignatios was condemned to the beasts on account of his testimony unto God, he said, ‘I am God’s wheat, and by the teeth of wild beasts am I ground, that I may be found pure bread." Eusebius adds that Saint Ignatius "was succeeded by Heros in the Episcopacy of the Church of Antioch."
After the Saint’s Martyrdom, Emperor Trajan received a report concerning the God-bearer Ignatios’ virtues and his valiant stance while enduring the martyric contest. He was told how the Saint stood with a gladsome and joyous countenance and gave thanks to the Emperor for sentencing him to become prey for the wild beasts. Trajan came to revere Saint Ignatios and all the Christians. He was informed that they were temperate and kept themselves from shameless acts. He heard how they prayed throughout the night and performed praiseworthy deeds of mercy. As they posed no threat to the stability of the realm. Trajan began to feel remorse for his prior treatment of the Christian people; therefore, he decided that they should be left in peace. He enacted a law and put it in writing to all his Governors and nobles that the Christians were no longer to be put to death. Thus, not only during the Saint’s lifetime was he of service to the flock but even in his death; for there was ushered in a period of tranquility. (Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church)
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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 