PRINTED BY J. MOIR, PATERSON'S COURT, FOR J. P. COGHLANE, NO.37. DUKE-STREET, GROSVENOR-SQUARE, ST IGNATIUS, Bishop of Antioch, M. From his genuine epistles; also from the acts of his martyrdom, St Chrys. Hom. in St Ignat. M. T. 2. p. 592. Ed. Nov. Eusebius. See Tillemont, T. 2. p. 191. Cave, T. 1. p. 100. Dom Ceillier, Dom Marechal, Concordance des Peres Grecs & Latins, T. I. p. 58. A. D. 107. ST IGNATIUS, surnamed Theophorus, (a) a word implying a divine or heavenly person, was a zealous convert and an intimate disciple of St John the Evangelist, as his acts assure us; also of the apostles SS. Peter and Paul, who united their labours in planting the faith at Antioch. (b) It was by their direction that he succeeded Evodius in the government of that important see, as we are told by St Chrysostom, (1) who represents him as a perfect model of (1) Hom. in St Ignat. T. 2: p. 592. See also Theodoret, Dial. I. P. 33. (a) The accent placed on the penultima of topopor, as the word is written in the saint's acts, denotes it of an active signification, one that carrieth God; but of the passive, carried of God, if placed on the antepenultima. (b) St Gregory tells us, (1. 4. ep. 37.) that he was a disciple of St Peter. The apostolic constitutions add, also of St Paul, (1. 7. c. 46.) We are assured by St Chrysostom, (hom. in St Ignat.) and. Theodoret, (Dial. 1. p. 33.) that he was made bishop by the direction of the apostles, and by the imposition of their hands. St Chrysostom says, that St Peter appointed him bishop to govern the see of Antioch, when he quitted it himself; which seems also to be affirmed by Origen, (in Luc. hom. 6.) St Athanasius, (de Syn. p. 922.) Facundus, &c. Baronius thinks he was left by St Peter, bishop of the Jewish converts, and became bishop also of the Gentiles in 68: for Eusebius (hist. 1. 3. c. 22. 36.) says, that St Evodius succeeded St Peter at Antioch; he adds, in his chronicle, in the year 43, and that he died in 68, and was succeeded by St Ignatius. Some think there is a mistake in the chronicle of Eusebius, as to the year of the death of Evodius, and that this happened before the martyrdom of St Peter, who appointed St Ignatius his successor. See Cotelier, not. p. 299. Tillem. not. T. 2. p. 619. The Greek Menæa mentions Evodius on the 7th of September. VOL. II. B I |