Ignatius: Name Day and Patron Saint

St Ignatius is called the God-bearer, Theophoros. The tradition gives two reasons: he carried God in his heart and prayed to Him without ceasing, and as a boy he was the child whom the Saviour took in His arms when He taught that we must become like little children. He was a disciple of the Apostle John the Theologian, together with St Polycarp of Smyrna, and became the second Bishop of Antioch after St Euodius. The Church credits him with antiphonal singing by two choirs, after a vision of angels praising God in turn. When the emperor Trajan came through Antioch around 107, Ignatius went before him of his own will to spare his flock, confessed Christ and refused to sacrifice to idols. He was sentenced to be thrown to wild beasts in Rome. On the long road he met St Polycarp at Smyrna, encouraged the churches not to fear death, and wrote seven letters, to the Ephesians, Magnesians, Trallians, Romans, Philadelphians and Smyrnaeans and to Polycarp, which are still read. On 20 December the lions killed him in the Roman arena, leaving only his heart and a few bones; tradition says the name of Jesus Christ was found written in gold on his heart. His relics were taken to Antioch and later returned to Rome. The Church keeps his feast on 20 December (2 January on the Old Calendar), in the days before the Nativity, and asks him to intercede with Christ God for the salvation of our souls.

What the faithful pray for

• the salvation of our souls
• love and unity among believers
• courage not to fear death for Christ
• bishops and the flocks in their care
• an end to the persecution of Christians