The
Martyrdom of Ignatius
Chapter I.-Desire of Ignatius for
Martyrdom.
When Trajan, not long since, succeeded to the empire of the
Romans, Ignatius, the disciple of John the apostle, a man in all
respects of an apostolic character, governed the Church of the
Antiochians with great care, having with difficulty escaped the
former storms of the many persecutions under Domitian, inasmuch
as, like a good pilot, by the helm of prayer and fasting, by the
earnestness of his teaching, and by his [constant spiritual labour,
he resisted the flood that rolled against him, fearing [only]
lest he should lose any of those who were deficient in courage,
or apt to suffer from their simplicity. Wherefore he rejoiced
over the tranquil state of the Church, when the persecution ceased
for a little time, but was grieved as to himself, that he had
not yet attained to a true love to Christ, nor reached the perfect
rank of a disciple. For he inwardly reflected, that the confession
which is made by martyrdom, would bring him into a yet more intimate
relation to the Lord. Wherefore, continuing a few years longer
with the Church, and, like a divine lamp, enlightening every one's
understanding by his expositions of the [Holy ] Scriptures, he
[at length] attained the object of his desire.
Chapter II.-Ignatius is Condemned
by Trajan.
For Trajan, in the ninth year of his reign, being lifted up
[with pride], after the victory he had gained over the Scythians
and Dacians, and many other nations, and thinking that the religious
body of the Christians were yet wanting to complete the subjugation
of all things to himself, and [thereupon] threatening them with
persecution unless they should agree to worship daemons, as did
all other nations, thus compelled all who were living godly lives
either to sacrifice [to idols] or die. Wherefore the noble soldier
of Christ [Ignatius], being in fear for the Church of the Antiochians,
was, in accordance with his own desire, brought before Trajan,
who was at that time staying at Antioch, but was in haste [to
set forth] against Armenia and the Parthians. And when he was
set before the emperor Trajan, [that prince] said unto him, "Who
art thou, wicked wretch, who settest thyself to transgress our
commands, and persuadest others to do the same, so that they should
miserably perish? "Ignatius replied, "No one ought to
call Theophorus wicked; for all evil spirits have departed from
the servants of God. But if, because I am an enemy to these [spirits],
you call me wicked in respect to them, I quite agree with you;
for inasmuch as I have Christ the King of heaven [within me],
I destroy all the devices of these [evil spirits]." Trajan
answered, "And who is Theophorus? "Ignatius replied,
"He who has Christ within his breast." Trajan said,
"Do we not then seem to you to have the gods in our
mind, whose assistance we enjoy in fighting against our enemies?
"Ignatius answered, "Thou art in error when thou callest
the daemons of the nations gods. For there is but one God, who
made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that are in them;
and one Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, whose kingdom
may I enjoy." Trajan said, "Do you mean Him who was
crucified under Pontius Pilate? "Ignatius replied, "I
mean Him who crucified my sin, with him who was the inventor of
it, and who has condemned [and cast down] all the deceit and malice
of the devil under the feet of those who carry Him in their heart."
Trajan said, "Dost thou then carry within thee Him that was
crucified? "Ignatius replied, "Truly so; for it is written,
`I will dwell in them, and walk in them.'" Then Trajan pronounced
sentence as follows: "We command that Ignatius, who affirms
that he carries about within him Him that was crucified, be bound
by soldiers, and carried to the great [city] Rome, there to be
devoured by the beasts, for the gratification of the people."
When the holy martyr heard this sentence, he cried out with joy,
"I thank thee, O Lord, that Thou hast vouchsafed to honour
me with a perfect love towards Thee, and hast made me to be bound
with iron chains, like Thy Apostle Paul." Having spoken thus,
he then, with delight, clasped the chains about him; and when
he had first prayed for the Church, and commended it with tears
to the Lord, he was hurried away by the savage cruelty of the
soldiers, like a distinguished ram the leader of a goodly flock,
that he might be carried to Rome, there to furnish food to the
bloodthirsty beasts.
Chapter III.-Ignatius Sails to Smyrna.
Wherefore, with great alacrity and joy, through his desire
to suffer, he came down from Antioch to Seleucia, from which place
he set sail. And after a great deal of suffering he came to Smyrna,
where he disembarked with great joy, and hastened to see the holy
Polycarp, [formerly] his fellow-disciple, and [now] bishop of
Smyrna. For they had both, in old times, been disciples of St.
John the Apostle. Being then brought to him, and having communicated
to him some spiritual gifts, and glorying in his bonds, he entreated
of him to labour along with him for the fulfilment of his desire;
earnestly indeed asking this of the whole Church (for the cities
and Churches of Asia had welcomed the holy man through their bishops,
and presbyters, and deacons, all hastening to meet him, if by
any means they might receive from him some spiritual gift), but
above all, the holy Polycarp, that, by means of the wild beasts,
he soon disappearing from this world, might be manifested before
the face of Christ.
Chapter IV.-Ignatius Writes to the
Churches.
And these things he thus spake, and thus testified, extending
his love to Christ so far as one who was about to secure heaven
through his good confession, and the earnestness of those who
joined their prayers to his in regard to his [approaching] conflict;
and to give a recompense to the Churches, who came to meet him
through their rulers, sending letters of thanksgiving to them,
which dropped spiritual grace, along with prayer and exhortation.
Wherefore, seeing all men so kindly affected towards him, and
fearing lest the love of the brotherhood should hinder his zeal
towards the Lord, while a fair door of suffering martyrdom was
opened to him, he wrote to the Church of the Romans the Epistle
which is here subjoined.
(See the Epistle as formerly given.)
Chapter V.-Ignatius is Brought to
Rome.
Having therefore, by means of this Epistle, settled, as he
wished, those of the brethren at Rome who were unwilling [for
his martyrdom]; and setting sail from Smyrna (for Christophorus
was pressed by the soldiers to hasten to the public spectacles
in the mighty [city] Rome, that, being given up to the wild beasts
in the sight of the Roman people, he might attain to the crown
for which he strove), he [next] landed at Troas. Then, going on
from that place to Neapolis, he went [on foot] by Philippi through
Macedonia, and on to that part of Epirus which is near Epidamnus;
and finding a ship in one of the seaports, he sailed over the
Adriatic Sea, and entering from it on the Tyrrhene, he passed
by the various islands and cities, until, when Puteoli came in
sight, he was eager there to disembark, having a desire to tread
in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul. But a violent wind arising
did not suffer him to do so, the ship being driven rapidly forwards;
and, simply expressing his delight over the love of the brethren
in that place, he sailed by. Wherefore, continuing to enjoy fair
winds, we were reluctantly hurried on in one day and a night,
mourning [as we did] over the coming departure from us of this
righteous man. But to him this happened just as he wished, since
he was in haste as soon as possible to leave this world, that
he might attain to the Lord whom he loved. Sailing then into the
Roman harbour, and the unhallowed sports being just about to close,
the soldiers began to be annoyed at our slowness, but the bishop
rejoicingly yielded to their urgency.
Chapter VI.-Ignatius is Devoured by
the Beasts at Rome.
They pushed forth therefore from the place which is called
Portus; and (the fame of all relating to the holy martyr being
already spread abroad) we met the brethren full of fear and joy;
rejoicing indeed because they were thought worthy to meet with
Theophorus, but struck with fear because so eminent a man was
being led to death. Now he enjoined some to keep silence who,
in their fervent zeal, were saying that they would appease the
people, so that they should not demand the destruction of this
just one. He being immediately aware of this through the Spirit,
and having saluted them all, and begged of them to show a true
affection towards him, and having dwelt [on this point] at greater
length than in his Epistle, and having persuaded them not to envy
him hastening to the Lord, he then, after he had, with all the
brethren kneeling [beside him], entreated the Son of God in behalf
of the Churches, that a stop might be put to the persecution,
and that mutual love might continue among the brethren, was led
with all haste into the amphitheatre. Then, being immediately
thrown in, according to the command of Caesar given some time
ago, the public spectacles being just about to close (for it was
then a solemn day, as they deemed it, being that which is called
the thirteenth in the Roman tongue, on which the people were wont
to assemble in more than ordinary numbers ), he was thus cast
to the wild beasts close, beside the temple, that so by them the
desire of the holy martyr Ignatius should be fulfilled, according
to that which is written, "The desire of the righteous is
acceptable [to God]," to the effect that he might not be
troublesome to any of the brethren by the gathering of his remains,
even as he had in his Epistle expressed a wish beforehand that
so his end might be. For only the harder portions of his holy
remains were left, which were conveyed to Antioch and wrapped
in linen, as an inestimable treasure left to the holy Church by
the grace which was in the martyr.
Chapter VII.-Ignatius Appears in a
Vision After His Death.
Now these things took place on the thirteenth day before the Kalends of January, that is, on the twentieth of December, Sura and Senecio being then the consuls of the Romans for the second time. Having ourselves been eye-witnesses of these things, and having spent the whole night in tears within the house, and having entreated the Lord, with bended knees and much prayer, that He would give us weak men full assurance respecting the things which were done, it came to pass, on our filling into a brief slumber, that some of us saw the blessed Ignatius suddenly standing by us and embracing us, while others beheld him again praying for us, and others still saw him dropping with sweat, as if he had just come from his great labour, and standing by the Lord. When, therefore, we had with great joy witnessed these things, and had compared our several visions together, we sang praise to God, the giver of all good things, and expressed our sense of the happiness of the holy [martyr]; and now we have made known to you both the day and the time [when these things happened], that, assembling ourselves together according to the time of his martyrdom, we may have fellowship with the champion and noble martyr of Christ, who trode under foot the devil, and perfected the course which, out of love to Christ, he had desired, in Christ Jesus our Lord; by whom, and with whom, be glory and power to the Father, with the Holy Spirit, for evermore! Amen.
