Ignatius of Antioch
Apostle
Commemorated December 20
Our father among the saints Ignatius the God-bearer of Antioch (probably died AD 107) was the third bishop of Antioch, after the Apostle Peter and Euodios , whom Ignatius succeeded around AD 68. Ignatius, who also called himself Theophorus (" God-bearer "), was most likely a disciple of both Apostles Peter and John . Several of his letters have survived to this day; he is one of the Apostolic Fathers (the earliest group of the Church Fathers ), and a saint in the Orthodox Church (feastday, December 20 ).
Troparion
As thou didst share in the ways of the apostles
and didst occupy their throne,
thou didst find thine activity to be a passage to divine vision,
O divinely inspired one.
Wherefore, ordering the word of truth,
thou didst suffer for the Faith even to the shedding of thy blood.
O hieromartyr Ignatius, entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved.
Kontakion
The luminous day of thy radiant struggles
proclaimeth beforehand to all Him Who hath been Born in the cave;
for thirsting to delight in His love,
thou didst hasten to be devoured by the wild beasts.
Wherefore, thou hast been called the God-bearer, O most wise Ignatius.