Ignatius of Antioch was a bishop of the early second century and one of the most moving figures of the apostolic age — a man who, on his way to be martyred in Rome, wrote a series of letters that are among the greatest treasures of early Christianity, including one addressed to the church of Ephesus.
Arrested for his faith around 108 AD and sent under guard to die in the arena at Rome, Ignatius spent his final journey writing to the Christian communities he loved. He travelled through Asia Minor, stopping at Smyrna, where he was welcomed by Saint Polycarp, and from there he wrote his famous letters — to the Ephesians, the Magnesians, the Trallians, and others.
His letters reveal a Church already gathered around its bishops and its shared Eucharist, and a faith of astonishing courage. Facing the wild beasts, Ignatius wrote that he was “God’s wheat,” to be ground into pure bread for Christ. He embraced his death with a serenity that has inspired Christians ever since.
That Ignatius wrote a letter to Ephesus, the city I guide most often, always gives me a quiet thrill. To explore early Christian Ephesus with a licensed guide, find me at theephesus.com or toursaroundturkey.com.
