Holy Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-Bearer

Life

This holy man was called God-Bearer, because he constantly bore in his heart and on his tongue the name of the Living God. And further, according to tradition, Ignatius was called God-Bearer also because he was taken up in the hands of God incarnate, Jesus Christ. In those days when the Lord was teaching His disciples humility, He took a child and placing him among them, said to them: Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt. 18:4). That child was Ignatius. Later Ignatius was a disciple of Saint John the Theologian, together with Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna. As bishop in Antioch Ignatius governed the Church of God as a good shepherd, and he was the first to introduce the antiphonal manner of singing in the church, that is, singing by two choirs so that when the singing on one side ceases, on the other it begins. This manner of singing was revealed to Saint Ignatius among the angels in heaven. When Emperor Trajan was passing through Antioch going to war against the Persians, Trajan learned of Ignatius, summoned him to himself and began to advise that Ignatius offer sacrifice to idols, and Trajan would give him the rank of senator. When both the emperor's counsels and threats remained in vain, Saint Ignatius was bound in irons and in the company of ten merciless soldiers was sent to Rome, to be cast before wild beasts. Ignatius rejoiced at suffering for his Lord and only prayed to God that the wild beasts would be the grave of his body, and that no one would prevent him in that death. After a long and difficult journey from Asia through Thrace, Macedonia and Epirus, Ignatius arrived in Rome, where he was cast before lions in the circus. The lions tore him apart and devoured him, leaving only a few larger bones and his heart. This glorious lover of the Lord Christ suffered in the year 106 in Rome in the time of the Christ-hating Emperor Trajan. Ignatius has appeared many times from the other world and performed miracles, helping even to this day everyone who calls upon him for help.

From the Hymn of Praise

Hierarch of Christ, wondrous and exemplary,Gracious hierarch and not an enemy of God,Not of the God-hating who slew ChristBut of the God-bearers who loved Christ—