Hieromartyr Ignatius

Life

The main celebration of Saint Ignatius is in winter on December 20. On this date, however, is celebrated the transfer of his relics from Rome where he suffered martyrdom, to Antioch where he had previously been a hierarch. When Saint Ignatius was summoned to Rome to answer for his faith before Emperor Trajan, on that long journey he was accompanied by several citizens from Antioch, impelled to this by great love toward their wondrous archpastor. The saint of God, having in no way been willing to renounce the Christian faith, having scorned all the flattery and promises of Emperor Trajan, was condemned to death and cast in the Great Circus before wild beasts. The beasts tore him apart and he gave up his soul to God. Then his companions gathered his bare bones, carried them to Antioch and honorably buried them. But when the Persians seized Antioch in the sixth century, the relics of Saint Ignatius were again returned from Antioch to Rome.

From the Hymn of Praise

The bitter death of Christ crushed death's sting,And drove away forever the foolish fear of death.After Christ rushed a flock of martyrsInto death—but without fear, and complaint, and cry;