bishops and clergy to reverence and obedience is A recent discovery
promises
to reopen the ques-
very great.
very great.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - b
E.
iii.
46) and
these statements are hardly consistent with the Jerome (De Viris Illustr c. 16). The fact of his
account of Eusebius (Chron. Pars Il. interp. having written letters, though without specifying
Hieron), that his ordination took place a. D. 69, either the number or the parties to whom they are
when Peter and several of the apostles were addressed, is attested by his contemporary, Poly-
already dead. He is said to have succeeded carp (ad Philipp. c. 13. Vers. Lat. ), who collected
Evodius, whose ordination is placed in A. D. 44. several and sent them to the Philippians, and some
As in the apostolic age a plurality of bishops quotations from him are found in Irenaeus (Adv.
existed in some at least of the first churches, e. g. Haeres. v. 28) and Origen (Proleg. in Cantic. Canti-
Ephesus and Philippi (comp. Acts, xx. 17, 28 ; cor. and Homil. VI. in Lucam). There are, however,
Philip. i. 1), and as the church at Antioch was at present extant fifteen epistles ascribed to Igna-
from the first a large and important church, it is tius. Seven of these are considered to be genuine;
not impossible that Ignatius may have been made namely, 1. Tipos ’Edéolovs, Ad Ephesios ; 2. May
bishop before the death of Evodius, and may there- noiellow, Ad Mugesianos ; 3. Tpallavois, Ad
fore have been ordained by Peter or some other of Trallianos ; 4. Tipòs 'Pwualovs, Ad Romanos ; 5.
the apostles.
Φιλαδελφεύσιν, Ad Philadelphenos; 6. Σμυρναίοις,
Of the episcopate of Ignatius we know little. ad Smyrneos ; and, 7. Ipòs nonúkaprov, Ad Polya
He appears to have been over-earnest in insisting carpum. The titles of these epistles agree with the
upon the prerogatives of the clergy, especially the enumeration of Eusebius and Jerome. There are
bishops. The Martyrium Ignatii represents him as found two recensions of them,-a longer, now re-
anxious for the sted fastness of his flock during the garded as an interpolated one, and a shorter form,
persecution said to have taken place in Domitian's which is considered as tolerably uncorrupted. Two
reign ; and incessant in watching and prayer, and ancient Latin versions are extant, corresponding in a
in instructing his people, fearing lest the more great degree to the two forms or recensions of the
ignorant and timid among them should fall away. Greek text: the larger, known as the common
On the cessation of the persecution he rejoiced at (vulgata) version ; the other first discovered and
the little injury the church at Antioch had sustained. published by Archbishop Usher. Many of the
When the emperor Trajan, elated with his vic- interpolations found in the larger form are of pas-
tories over the Dacians and other nations on the sages of the New Testament.
Danubian frontier, began to persecute the church, Five other epistles, though extant in Greek, are
the anxiety of Ignatius was renewed ; and, eager regarded as spurious; namely, 8. ſlpós Maplar els
to a fert the violence of persecution from his lock, | Νεάπολιν την προς το Ζαρβά, or Πρός Μαρίας Κασ-
and to obtain the crown of martyrdom for himself, σoβoλίτην, or έκ Κασσοβήλων, or Κασταβαλίτιν,
he offered himself as a victim, and was brought or ék Kantabáawv, Ad Marium, Neapolim, quae
before the emperor, then at Antioch on his way to est ad Zarbum, or Ad Mariam Cassobolitam, va-
the eastern frontier to attack the Armenians and riously written Castabalitam, or Castabalensem, or
Parthians. The conference between the emperor ex Cossobelis, or Chassaobulorum, or Chusabolorum,
## p. 565 (#581) ############################################
IGNATIUS:
565
IGNATIUS.
text.
answer.
or Castabalorum. 9. lipds tous év Tapow, Ad Tar. The genuineness of these remains was now
senses ; 10. Nyds 'Avrioxeis, Ad Antiochenos ; 11. called into question, the acuteness of criticism being
Προς “Ήρωνα, διάκονον 'Αντιοχείας, Ad Heronem apparently increased by a distaste for the contents
Diaconum Antiochiae; 12. Npds Qidiranolous, ad of the Epistles. The authors of the Centuriae Mag-
Philippenses. Some copies add to the title of this deburgenses were the first to express their doubts,
epistle the words Nepl Bantiquatos, De Baptis though with caution and moderation. Calvin, in
mate; an addition which by no means correctly his Institutiones, i. 3, declared that “ nothing could
describes the contents. Of four of these spurious be more silly than the stuff (naeniae) which had
epistles two ancient Latin versions are extant, the been brought out under the name of Ignatius ;
common version and that published by Usher; of which rendered the impudence of those persons
that to the Philippians, there is only one version more insufferable who had set themselves to de
(viz. the common). The epistle to Polycarp in ceive people by such phantoms (larvae). ” It has
the common Latin version is defective ; contain- been observed, however, that the parts which in-
ing only about one third of what is in the Greek curred Calvin's reprehension were the supposititious
There is also extant, both in the Greek epistles, or the parts since found to be interpolated
and in the two Latin versions, an epistle of Mary in the larger form of the genuine ones. The con-
of Casso belae (called also Mpoohautos, Proselyta) troversy grew warm : the Romish writers and the
to Ignatius, to which his letter professes to be an Episcopalians commonly contending for the genuine-
ness of at least a part of the Epistles, and some of
The remaining three epistles ascribed to Ignatius the Presbyterians denying it. The three epistles
are found only in Latin : they are very short, and not extant in Greek were the first given up; but
have long been given up as spurious: they are, the rest were stoutly contended for. Several
13. S. Joanni Evangelistae ; 14. Ad Eundem ; however distinguished between the seven enume-
and, 15, Beatae Virgini. With these is found a rated by Eusebius and the rest ; and some con-
letter of the Virgin to Ignatius, Beata Virgo Ig tended that even those which were genuine were
natio, professing to be an answer to his letter. interpolated. While the controversy was in this
This also is given up as spurious. The whole, state, Vedelius, a professor at Geneva, published an
indeed, of the Epistles, the first seven as well as edition (S. Ignatii quae extant omnia, 4to. Geneva,
the rest, have been vehemently assailed, and by 1623), in which the seven genuine were arranged
some eminent scholars; but the above statement is in apart from the other five epistles. He marked also
accordance with the general opinion of the learned. in the genuine epistles the parts which he regarded
The extent and celebrity of the controversy as interpolations. His conjectures, however, were
respecting these writings, and the importance of not happy.
the letters in their bearing on the much-disputed Jn 1644 appeared the edition by Archbishop
question of primitive church government, require Usher (4to. Oxford) of the Epistles of Polycarp
some notice to be taken of the discussion. In A. D. and Ignatius. This edition contained, 1. Polycar-
1495 the three Latin epistles and the letter of the piana Epistolarum Ignatianarum Sylloge (Poly-
Virgin were printed at Paris, subjoined to the Vita carp's Collection of the Epistles of Ignatius), con
el Processus S. Thomae Cantuarensis Martyris super taining Polycarp's Epistle to the Philippians, and
Libertate Ecclesiustica. In A. D. 1498, three years six of the genuine epistles of Ignatius (that to
after the appearance of these letters, another col- Polycarp being referred by Usher to the next
lection, edited by Jacobus Faber of Etaples (Sta- class) in the longer form, with the common Latin
pulensis), was printed at Paris in folio, containing version printed in parallel columns. The inter-
the common Latin version of eleven letters, that to polated portions, so far as they were ascertainable
Mary of Cassobelae not being among them. They by the aid of an old Latin version of the shorter
were published with some of the works ascribed to form, of which Usher had obtained two MSS. in
Dionysius Areopagita and an epistle of Polycarp. England, and which he was the first to publish,
These eleven epistles were reprinted at Venice, were distinguished by being printed in red. This
A. D. 1502, Paris, A. D. 1515, Basel, 1520, and Stras- recension, however, by no means restored the text
burg, 1527. In 1516, the preceding fourteen to its original purity, as may be seen by the most
epistles, with the addition of the letter to Mary cursory comparison of Usher's text with that of
of Cassobelae, were edited by Symphorianus Cham- Cotelerius and Le Clerc. The edition of Usher fur-
perius of Lyons, and published at Paris in 4to. ther contained, 2. Epistolae B. Ignatio adscriptae a
with seven letters of St. Antony, commonly called Medine Aetatis Graecis Sex (Six Epistles ascribed to
the Great. The whole of the letters ascribed to St. Ignatius by the Greeks of the Middle Age).
Ignatius were now before the public in Latin, nor The Epistle of Polycarp was included in this class,
does their genuineness appear to have been as with the five spurious epistles extant in Greek.
yet suspected. They were repeatedly reprinted The common Latin version was also printed with
in the course of the sixteenth century. In a. D. these in parallel columns; and the three epistles
1557 the twelve epistles of Ignatius in Greek were which are extant only in Latin were subjoined.
published by Valentinus Paceus or Pacaeus in 3. A Latin version of eleven epistles (that to the
8vo. at Dillingen in Suabia on the Danube, from Philippians being omitted) from the two MSS.
an Augsburg MS. They were reprinted at Paris, obtained by Usher, and now first printed. This
A. D. 1558 with critical emendations. The same version is quite different from the common one,
twelve Greek epistles from another MS. from the and very ancient. It corresponds, in the main, to
library of Gaspar a Nydpryck, were published by the shorter text of the genuine Epistles.
Andreas Gesner with a Latin version by Joannes The work of Usher contains also a valuable
Brunnerus, fol. Zurich, 1559. In these editions introduction and notes to the Epistles of Ignatius
the Greek text of the seven epistles was given in and Polycarp, the Apostolical Constitutions, and tho
the larger form, the shorter form, both in Greek Canons ascribed to Clement of Rome. In 1646 the
and Latin, being as yet undiscovered.
Epistles of Ignatius were published by Isaac Vos-
oo 3
## p. 566 (#582) ############################################
666
IGNATIUS.
IGNATIUS.
a
a
sing (4to. Ainsterdam), from a MS. in the Medicean | Le Clerc, and variorum notes. A useful edition of
Library at Florence. The MS. , which is not accu- the genuine Epistles with those of Clement of
rately written, and is mutilated at the end, is valu- Rome and Polycarp, and the Martyria of Ignatius
able as the only one containing the shorter recension and Polycarp, was published by Jacobson (2 vols.
of the genuine Epistles: it wants, however, that to 8vo. Oxford, 1838). There are versions in several
the Romans, which was given by Vossius in the of the languages of modern Europe ; including two
longer form, as in the former editions. The five English translations, an old one hy Archbishop
spurious epistles, and that of Mary of Cassobelae Wake, and a modern one by Clementson (8vo.
to Ignatius, from the Medicean Ms. , the text of 1827). Wake's translation has been repeatedly
which differs materially from that previously pub- published.
lished; the three Latin Epistles, Usher's Latin Ebed-jesu, the Syrian, speaks of Ignatius as
version of the eleven Greek Epistles, and the having written De Re Fidei et Canones, but he is
common version of that to the Philippians, were supposed to refer to his Epistles (Assemani,
all given by Vossius. Iu 16+7 Usher published | Bill. Orient. vol. iii. p. ii. p. 16, 17). There
his Appendix Ignatiana, containing the Greek is also a Syriac liturgy ascribed to Ignatius, of which
text of the seven Epistles, and two Latin ver- a Latin version is given by Renaudot (Litury.
sions of the Martyrium Ignatii. He gave the Orientales, vol. ii. p. 215, &c. ), who declares it to
Medicean text of six of the Epistles ; that to the be spurious.
Romans was the common text with the interpo- The Martyrium Ignati, which is our chief au-
lations expunged, as determined by a collation of thority for the circumstances of Ignatius' death,
the epistle as given in the Martyrium, both in the professes to be written by eye-witnesses, the com-
Greek of Symeon Metaphrastes and the Latin panions of his voyage to Rome, supposed to be
versions published by Usher. The text of Ignatius Philo, a deacon of Tarsus or some other church in
was thus settled on the basis of MS. authority, Cilicia, and Rheus Agathopus, a Syrian, who are
except in the case of the Epistle to the Romans, mentioned in the Epistles of Ignatius (Ad Philo
and that was afterwards published by Le Clerc delph. c. 11; Ad Smyrneos, c. 13). Usher adds to .
from a manuscript in the Colbertine Library. them a third person, Gaius, but on what authority
After the controversy had been carried on for some we know not, and Gallandius adds Crocus men-
time, and great progress had been made towards the tioned by Ignatius (Ad Romanos, c. 10). The
settlement of the text, the most formidable attack on account, with many interpolations, is incorporated
the genuineness of the Epistles was made by Daillé in the work of Symeon Metaphrastes (A. D. 20,
(Dallaeus), one of the most eminent of the French Dec. ), and a Latin translation from him is given by
Protestants, in his work De Scriptis quae sub Dio Surius, De Probatis Sanctor. Vitis, and in the
nysii Areopagitae et Ignatii Antiocheni circumfe- Acta Sanctorum, under the date of the 1st of Feb.
runtur Libri duo, 4to. Geneva, 1856. The works The Martyrium was first printed in Latin by
of Ignatius form the subject of the second book. archbishop Usher, who gave two distinct ver-
This attack of Daillé called forth the Vindiciae sions from different MSS. The Greek text was
Ignatianae of Bishop Pearson, 4to. Cambridge, first printed by Ruinart in his Acta Martyrum
1672, which may be considered as having ex- Sincera (4to. Paris, 1689) from a MS. in the Col-
hausted the controversy. The subsequent contri- bertine library, and in a revised edition in Le
butions to the discussion do not require notice. Clerc's Cotelerius. It is given by Jacobson and by
The genuineness and substantial integrity of the most of the later editors of the Epistles. Its
seven epistles in the shorter form may be consi- genuineness is generally recognised; but it is
dered as now generally recognised.
thought to be interpolated. See the remarks of
The Epistles of Ignatius are characterised by Grabe quoted by Jacobson at the end of the Mar
simplicity of thought and by piety. His eagerness tyrium. A considerable fragment of an ancient
to obtain the crown of martyrdom has been cen- Syriac version of the Martyrium of Ignatius is
sured ; and his zeal in enforcing the claims of the published by Mr. Cureton.
bishops and clergy to reverence and obedience is A recent discovery promises to reopen the ques-
very great. Perhaps this characteristic, which has tion, as to the integrity of the shorter epistles.
quickened the suspicions of, or objections to, the Several writers, including Beausobre, Lardner,
genuineness of the Epistles, may be rather regarded and Priestly, had expressed their suspicion or
as an argument that they were written while those conviction, that there were in them interpola-
claims were by no means generally admitted. His tions, more or less considerable. An ancient
zeal in enforcing them is an indication of their Syriac version of the epistles to Polycarp, to the
being disputed, as men do not 'contend for what Romans, and to the Ephesians, recently discovered,
no one denies. The Greek style of Ignatius is by gives reason to believe that the interpolations are
no means good, which is accounted for by the cir- very considerable. This version was discovered
cumstance of Greek not being his vernacular among the MSS. of the library of the Syriac con-
tongue.
vent of the desert of Nitria in Egypt, which has
The most complete and valuable edition of Igna- been lately purchased by the trustees of the Bri-
tius is that contained in the Patres Apostolici of tish Museum. These epistles have been published
Cotelerius, the second edition of which by Le by the Rev. W. Cureton, of the British Museum
Clerc (2 volg. fol. Amsterdam. 1724) contains the (The Ancient Syriac Version of the Epistles of St.
two recensions of the genuine epistles, all the spu- Ignatius, &c. , by William Cureton, M. A. 8vo.
rious epistles (Greek and Latin), with the epistles London. 1845), from two MSS. , of which one,
of Mary of Cassobelae and of the Virgin ; the two containing the epistle to Polycarp, is assigned by
ancient Latin versions (the common one and him to the sixth century ; the other, containing
Usher's), the Martyrium Ignatii
, the Dissertationes the other two epistles, belongs, in his judgment, to
(i. e. thé Introduction) of Usher, the Vindiciae of the seventh or eighth century. The Syriac Epistle
Pearson, a Dissertatio de Ignatianis Epistolis, by I to Polycarp contains scarcely anything of c. vii. and
c
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IGNATIUS.
IGNATIUS.
567
viii. , which, in the Greek text, form the close of | must have been after the death of Nicephorus.
the epistle. The Epistle to the Ephesians omits, He wrote several other works which are un-
with some trifling exceptions, c. ii. -vii. , xi. - xxi. ; published, and a list of which is given by Fabricius.
beside the greater part of c. ix. ; the omitted por (Suidas, s. v. 'lyvários; Acla Sanctorum, U. cc. ;
tion forming two-thirds of the Epistle in Greek. Fabric. Bibl. Graec. vol. i. p. 635, vi. p. 370, vii.
The Epistle to the Romans omits considerable por- p. 45, x. pp. 297, 329. )
tions of c. i. -iii. , nearly the whole of c vi. -viii. , 3. Of CONSTANTINOPLE, competitor with Pho
the greater part of c. ix. , and the whole of c. x. tius for the patriarchate in the ninth century. His
The conclusion of the Epistle to the Romans in original name was Nicetas (Nuntas). He was
Syriac consists of what appears in the Greek as son of the emperor Michael 1. Curopalata or Rhan-
c. iv. -v. of the Epistle to the Trallians. Mr. gabe (MICHAEL I. ), by Procopia, daughter of the
Cureton gives an English version, interpaged with emperor Nicephorus I. Logotheta, predecessor of
the Syriac text, and subjoins the Greek text con- Michael. During the short reign of his father
formed to the Syriac, the parts expunged being (A. D. 811-813), Nicetas commanded the Icanates
printed at the foot of the page. In a valuable or life-guards, having been appointed to the post
preface he reviews the history of the Greek text at about ten years of age, and manifested a desire
of the Epistles, gives an interesting account of the to gain the favour of the soldiers : he also acquired
fruitless endeavours made in the seventeenth cen- some knowledge and experience in public business.
tury, by Mr. Huntington, chaplain at Aleppo, If his age is accurately stated, he must have been
(afterwards Provost of Trinity College, Dublin, born just about the commencement of the century.
and Bishop of Raphoe), to discover the Syriac On the deposition of Michael, and the accession of
version, and the more recent and successful efforts. Leo V. the Armenian (Leo V. ), the deposed em-
He discusses the question whether the Syriac text peror and his family shaved their heads, and took
is to be preferred to the Greek, and argues strongly refuge in the church called Pharos (Þápos). Their
for its superiority. The interpolations, several of lives were spared, but Nicetas was castrated, and
which enforce clerical and episcopal authority, was obliged to embrace a monastic life, on which
while others support the deity of Jesus Christ, he occasion his name was changed to Ignatius. As
considers to be subsequent to and intended to bear he is said to have been about fourteen at this time,
upon the Arian (ARIUS) and Aerian (AERIUS) it is probable that these things did not occur till á
controversies. (Pearson, Usher, Jacobson, U. cc. ; year or two after his father's deposition. He was
Lardner, Credibility; Fabric. Bibl. Gr. vol. vii. 32. educated under a severe master, a zealous Iconoclast,
&c. ; Galland, Biblioth. Patrum, vol. i. Proleg. c. and pursued his new career with the energy of which
7, 8 ; Cave, Hist. Litt. vol. i. p. 41, ed. Oxford, he had in his boyhood given indications in secular
1740; Oudin, de Scriptoribus Eccles. vol. i. cod. affairs, acquired great reputation for sanctity, and
71 ; Ceillier, Auteurs Sacrés, vol. i. p. 620. ) became hegumenos or head of the monastery of
The name of Ignatius was borne by several of Satyrus at Constantinople. He was ordained pres-
the later patriarchs of Antioch. (See the Hist. byter by Basil, bishop of the church Kard to
Chronol. Patriarch. Antioch. prefixed to the Ada Nápeov. It is probable that in the Iconoclastic
Sanctorum Julii, vol. iv. ; and Fabric. Bibl. Graec. controversy which was then maging in the East, he
vol. xiv. p. 38, &c. , ed. vet. )
was, notwithstanding his education, one of the
2. Of CONSTANTINOPLE, where he was deacon champions of images ; for on the death of Metho-
and sceuophylax, or keeper of the sacred vessels in dius, patriarch of Constantinople, whose zeal on the
the great church. He lived in the latter part of the same side had entailed upon him much suffering,
eighth and the beginning of the ninth century, Ignatius was elevated to the patriarchate, by the
during the patriarchate of Tarasius (A. D. 784— patronage of the empress Theodora (THEODORA),
806) and Nicephorus (A. D. 806—815), with both the guardian of her son Michael III. during his
of whom he appears to have been connected either minority (MICHAEL III. ) and the restorer of
as disciple or friend. He was instructed by Tara- image worship. The date of the elevation of Igna-
sius in poetical composition. He was raised to the tius is not quite certain ; it was probably in A. D.
metropolitan see of Nicaea, but at what date is not 846 or 847. Symeon Magister places it in the 11th
ascertained. It was certainly not till after the year of Michael, A. D. 853 or 854, but this is too late.
second Nicene, or seventh oecumenical council, at Ignatius, at his consecration, desired Gregory As-
which Hypatius appeared as archbishop of Nicaea; bestas, bishop of Syracuse, in Sicily (GREGORIUS,
and it was probably not till after the death of Tara- No. 35), who was then at Constantinople, to absent
sius, or even of Nicephorus, who died deposed and himself, as being under accusation. This provoked
in exile A. D. 828. Nothing is known of the time Gregory's anger, and was the source of much trouble
of the death of Ignatius. He wrote, 1. Bios Tapa- to Ignatius himself. As the dissolute propensities
olov toll Matpıdpxou KwvotaVTIVOURólews, Vita Ta- of Michael were developed with his years, Ignatius
rasü Patriarchae CPolitani. This is extant in the became the object of insult to the emperor's profii-
griginal Greek in MS. , but has not been published. gate minion, Gryllus : and when the influence of
A Latin version is given in the De Probatis Sanc- Theodora was destroyed, and herself driven away
torum Vitis of Surius, and in the Acta Sanctorum from the court by her ambitious brother, the Caesar
of the Bollandists, Februar. 25, vol. iii. p. 576. Bardas, Ignatius was exposed to more serious
2. Βίος του αγίου Νικηφόρου, Πατριάρχου Κων- | hostility. He had refused compliance with the
OTANTIVOUTÓNews, Vita S. Nicephori Patriarchae emperor's wish to make his mother and sister nuns
CPolitani. This is given in the Acta Sanctorum, against their will; and in addition to the em-
Marti, 13, vol. ii. appendix, p. 704 ; and a Latin peror's hostility, he had incurred also the personal
version in the body of the vol. p. 294. As in the hatred of the Caesar. Bardas had been accused by
title of this work the author is called Diaconus report of incest with the wife of his own son ; and
CPolitanns, we are led to suppose that he was not as he had refused to listen to the rebukes of the pa-
yet archbishop of Nicaea when he wrote it, which briarch, Ignatius, on his coming to the communion,
004
## p. 568 (#584) ############################################
868
IGNATIUS.
IGNATIUS.
Dess,
I
had refused to admit him, notwithstanding his " to retire (oxonástiv) until Ignatius should die,"
threats of deposition and violence. Provoked by indicates perhaps that the restoration of Ignatius
his excommunication, the Caesar forcibly expelled was the subject of an arrangement between the
Ignatius from the church, on a charge of being a competitors, a conjecture which is strengthened by
transgressor and corrupter (åvopov kad poopéa), and the fact that on the death of Ignatius, Photius was
caused Photius (Photius] to be elected patriarch again placed on the patriarchal throne. Ignatius
in his place (A. D. 858). The appointment of died. A. D. 877, or 878, or possibly 879, being
Photius is said by the biographer of Ignatius to nearly or quite 80 years old, and much reverenced
have been irregularly made by secular persons, for the holiness of his life. He was buried in the
but some bishops seem to have been on that side ; monastery of Satyrus, which he bad rebuilt not
and there appears to have been a council of eccle- very long before his decease. Some letters or other
siastics convened to make the change, in which the pieces of Ignatius are found among the Acta of the
metropolitans of the patriarchate acquiesced, on the eighth general council. (Nicetas Paphlago, Blos
understanding that Ignatius should be courteously Toll dylou ’lyvatlou, Vita S. Ignatii, apud Concilia
and reverently treated by his successful rival. The Binii, vol.
these statements are hardly consistent with the Jerome (De Viris Illustr c. 16). The fact of his
account of Eusebius (Chron. Pars Il. interp. having written letters, though without specifying
Hieron), that his ordination took place a. D. 69, either the number or the parties to whom they are
when Peter and several of the apostles were addressed, is attested by his contemporary, Poly-
already dead. He is said to have succeeded carp (ad Philipp. c. 13. Vers. Lat. ), who collected
Evodius, whose ordination is placed in A. D. 44. several and sent them to the Philippians, and some
As in the apostolic age a plurality of bishops quotations from him are found in Irenaeus (Adv.
existed in some at least of the first churches, e. g. Haeres. v. 28) and Origen (Proleg. in Cantic. Canti-
Ephesus and Philippi (comp. Acts, xx. 17, 28 ; cor. and Homil. VI. in Lucam). There are, however,
Philip. i. 1), and as the church at Antioch was at present extant fifteen epistles ascribed to Igna-
from the first a large and important church, it is tius. Seven of these are considered to be genuine;
not impossible that Ignatius may have been made namely, 1. Tipos ’Edéolovs, Ad Ephesios ; 2. May
bishop before the death of Evodius, and may there- noiellow, Ad Mugesianos ; 3. Tpallavois, Ad
fore have been ordained by Peter or some other of Trallianos ; 4. Tipòs 'Pwualovs, Ad Romanos ; 5.
the apostles.
Φιλαδελφεύσιν, Ad Philadelphenos; 6. Σμυρναίοις,
Of the episcopate of Ignatius we know little. ad Smyrneos ; and, 7. Ipòs nonúkaprov, Ad Polya
He appears to have been over-earnest in insisting carpum. The titles of these epistles agree with the
upon the prerogatives of the clergy, especially the enumeration of Eusebius and Jerome. There are
bishops. The Martyrium Ignatii represents him as found two recensions of them,-a longer, now re-
anxious for the sted fastness of his flock during the garded as an interpolated one, and a shorter form,
persecution said to have taken place in Domitian's which is considered as tolerably uncorrupted. Two
reign ; and incessant in watching and prayer, and ancient Latin versions are extant, corresponding in a
in instructing his people, fearing lest the more great degree to the two forms or recensions of the
ignorant and timid among them should fall away. Greek text: the larger, known as the common
On the cessation of the persecution he rejoiced at (vulgata) version ; the other first discovered and
the little injury the church at Antioch had sustained. published by Archbishop Usher. Many of the
When the emperor Trajan, elated with his vic- interpolations found in the larger form are of pas-
tories over the Dacians and other nations on the sages of the New Testament.
Danubian frontier, began to persecute the church, Five other epistles, though extant in Greek, are
the anxiety of Ignatius was renewed ; and, eager regarded as spurious; namely, 8. ſlpós Maplar els
to a fert the violence of persecution from his lock, | Νεάπολιν την προς το Ζαρβά, or Πρός Μαρίας Κασ-
and to obtain the crown of martyrdom for himself, σoβoλίτην, or έκ Κασσοβήλων, or Κασταβαλίτιν,
he offered himself as a victim, and was brought or ék Kantabáawv, Ad Marium, Neapolim, quae
before the emperor, then at Antioch on his way to est ad Zarbum, or Ad Mariam Cassobolitam, va-
the eastern frontier to attack the Armenians and riously written Castabalitam, or Castabalensem, or
Parthians. The conference between the emperor ex Cossobelis, or Chassaobulorum, or Chusabolorum,
## p. 565 (#581) ############################################
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565
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text.
answer.
or Castabalorum. 9. lipds tous év Tapow, Ad Tar. The genuineness of these remains was now
senses ; 10. Nyds 'Avrioxeis, Ad Antiochenos ; 11. called into question, the acuteness of criticism being
Προς “Ήρωνα, διάκονον 'Αντιοχείας, Ad Heronem apparently increased by a distaste for the contents
Diaconum Antiochiae; 12. Npds Qidiranolous, ad of the Epistles. The authors of the Centuriae Mag-
Philippenses. Some copies add to the title of this deburgenses were the first to express their doubts,
epistle the words Nepl Bantiquatos, De Baptis though with caution and moderation. Calvin, in
mate; an addition which by no means correctly his Institutiones, i. 3, declared that “ nothing could
describes the contents. Of four of these spurious be more silly than the stuff (naeniae) which had
epistles two ancient Latin versions are extant, the been brought out under the name of Ignatius ;
common version and that published by Usher; of which rendered the impudence of those persons
that to the Philippians, there is only one version more insufferable who had set themselves to de
(viz. the common). The epistle to Polycarp in ceive people by such phantoms (larvae). ” It has
the common Latin version is defective ; contain- been observed, however, that the parts which in-
ing only about one third of what is in the Greek curred Calvin's reprehension were the supposititious
There is also extant, both in the Greek epistles, or the parts since found to be interpolated
and in the two Latin versions, an epistle of Mary in the larger form of the genuine ones. The con-
of Casso belae (called also Mpoohautos, Proselyta) troversy grew warm : the Romish writers and the
to Ignatius, to which his letter professes to be an Episcopalians commonly contending for the genuine-
ness of at least a part of the Epistles, and some of
The remaining three epistles ascribed to Ignatius the Presbyterians denying it. The three epistles
are found only in Latin : they are very short, and not extant in Greek were the first given up; but
have long been given up as spurious: they are, the rest were stoutly contended for. Several
13. S. Joanni Evangelistae ; 14. Ad Eundem ; however distinguished between the seven enume-
and, 15, Beatae Virgini. With these is found a rated by Eusebius and the rest ; and some con-
letter of the Virgin to Ignatius, Beata Virgo Ig tended that even those which were genuine were
natio, professing to be an answer to his letter. interpolated. While the controversy was in this
This also is given up as spurious. The whole, state, Vedelius, a professor at Geneva, published an
indeed, of the Epistles, the first seven as well as edition (S. Ignatii quae extant omnia, 4to. Geneva,
the rest, have been vehemently assailed, and by 1623), in which the seven genuine were arranged
some eminent scholars; but the above statement is in apart from the other five epistles. He marked also
accordance with the general opinion of the learned. in the genuine epistles the parts which he regarded
The extent and celebrity of the controversy as interpolations. His conjectures, however, were
respecting these writings, and the importance of not happy.
the letters in their bearing on the much-disputed Jn 1644 appeared the edition by Archbishop
question of primitive church government, require Usher (4to. Oxford) of the Epistles of Polycarp
some notice to be taken of the discussion. In A. D. and Ignatius. This edition contained, 1. Polycar-
1495 the three Latin epistles and the letter of the piana Epistolarum Ignatianarum Sylloge (Poly-
Virgin were printed at Paris, subjoined to the Vita carp's Collection of the Epistles of Ignatius), con
el Processus S. Thomae Cantuarensis Martyris super taining Polycarp's Epistle to the Philippians, and
Libertate Ecclesiustica. In A. D. 1498, three years six of the genuine epistles of Ignatius (that to
after the appearance of these letters, another col- Polycarp being referred by Usher to the next
lection, edited by Jacobus Faber of Etaples (Sta- class) in the longer form, with the common Latin
pulensis), was printed at Paris in folio, containing version printed in parallel columns. The inter-
the common Latin version of eleven letters, that to polated portions, so far as they were ascertainable
Mary of Cassobelae not being among them. They by the aid of an old Latin version of the shorter
were published with some of the works ascribed to form, of which Usher had obtained two MSS. in
Dionysius Areopagita and an epistle of Polycarp. England, and which he was the first to publish,
These eleven epistles were reprinted at Venice, were distinguished by being printed in red. This
A. D. 1502, Paris, A. D. 1515, Basel, 1520, and Stras- recension, however, by no means restored the text
burg, 1527. In 1516, the preceding fourteen to its original purity, as may be seen by the most
epistles, with the addition of the letter to Mary cursory comparison of Usher's text with that of
of Cassobelae, were edited by Symphorianus Cham- Cotelerius and Le Clerc. The edition of Usher fur-
perius of Lyons, and published at Paris in 4to. ther contained, 2. Epistolae B. Ignatio adscriptae a
with seven letters of St. Antony, commonly called Medine Aetatis Graecis Sex (Six Epistles ascribed to
the Great. The whole of the letters ascribed to St. Ignatius by the Greeks of the Middle Age).
Ignatius were now before the public in Latin, nor The Epistle of Polycarp was included in this class,
does their genuineness appear to have been as with the five spurious epistles extant in Greek.
yet suspected. They were repeatedly reprinted The common Latin version was also printed with
in the course of the sixteenth century. In a. D. these in parallel columns; and the three epistles
1557 the twelve epistles of Ignatius in Greek were which are extant only in Latin were subjoined.
published by Valentinus Paceus or Pacaeus in 3. A Latin version of eleven epistles (that to the
8vo. at Dillingen in Suabia on the Danube, from Philippians being omitted) from the two MSS.
an Augsburg MS. They were reprinted at Paris, obtained by Usher, and now first printed. This
A. D. 1558 with critical emendations. The same version is quite different from the common one,
twelve Greek epistles from another MS. from the and very ancient. It corresponds, in the main, to
library of Gaspar a Nydpryck, were published by the shorter text of the genuine Epistles.
Andreas Gesner with a Latin version by Joannes The work of Usher contains also a valuable
Brunnerus, fol. Zurich, 1559. In these editions introduction and notes to the Epistles of Ignatius
the Greek text of the seven epistles was given in and Polycarp, the Apostolical Constitutions, and tho
the larger form, the shorter form, both in Greek Canons ascribed to Clement of Rome. In 1646 the
and Latin, being as yet undiscovered.
Epistles of Ignatius were published by Isaac Vos-
oo 3
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666
IGNATIUS.
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a
a
sing (4to. Ainsterdam), from a MS. in the Medicean | Le Clerc, and variorum notes. A useful edition of
Library at Florence. The MS. , which is not accu- the genuine Epistles with those of Clement of
rately written, and is mutilated at the end, is valu- Rome and Polycarp, and the Martyria of Ignatius
able as the only one containing the shorter recension and Polycarp, was published by Jacobson (2 vols.
of the genuine Epistles: it wants, however, that to 8vo. Oxford, 1838). There are versions in several
the Romans, which was given by Vossius in the of the languages of modern Europe ; including two
longer form, as in the former editions. The five English translations, an old one hy Archbishop
spurious epistles, and that of Mary of Cassobelae Wake, and a modern one by Clementson (8vo.
to Ignatius, from the Medicean Ms. , the text of 1827). Wake's translation has been repeatedly
which differs materially from that previously pub- published.
lished; the three Latin Epistles, Usher's Latin Ebed-jesu, the Syrian, speaks of Ignatius as
version of the eleven Greek Epistles, and the having written De Re Fidei et Canones, but he is
common version of that to the Philippians, were supposed to refer to his Epistles (Assemani,
all given by Vossius. Iu 16+7 Usher published | Bill. Orient. vol. iii. p. ii. p. 16, 17). There
his Appendix Ignatiana, containing the Greek is also a Syriac liturgy ascribed to Ignatius, of which
text of the seven Epistles, and two Latin ver- a Latin version is given by Renaudot (Litury.
sions of the Martyrium Ignatii. He gave the Orientales, vol. ii. p. 215, &c. ), who declares it to
Medicean text of six of the Epistles ; that to the be spurious.
Romans was the common text with the interpo- The Martyrium Ignati, which is our chief au-
lations expunged, as determined by a collation of thority for the circumstances of Ignatius' death,
the epistle as given in the Martyrium, both in the professes to be written by eye-witnesses, the com-
Greek of Symeon Metaphrastes and the Latin panions of his voyage to Rome, supposed to be
versions published by Usher. The text of Ignatius Philo, a deacon of Tarsus or some other church in
was thus settled on the basis of MS. authority, Cilicia, and Rheus Agathopus, a Syrian, who are
except in the case of the Epistle to the Romans, mentioned in the Epistles of Ignatius (Ad Philo
and that was afterwards published by Le Clerc delph. c. 11; Ad Smyrneos, c. 13). Usher adds to .
from a manuscript in the Colbertine Library. them a third person, Gaius, but on what authority
After the controversy had been carried on for some we know not, and Gallandius adds Crocus men-
time, and great progress had been made towards the tioned by Ignatius (Ad Romanos, c. 10). The
settlement of the text, the most formidable attack on account, with many interpolations, is incorporated
the genuineness of the Epistles was made by Daillé in the work of Symeon Metaphrastes (A. D. 20,
(Dallaeus), one of the most eminent of the French Dec. ), and a Latin translation from him is given by
Protestants, in his work De Scriptis quae sub Dio Surius, De Probatis Sanctor. Vitis, and in the
nysii Areopagitae et Ignatii Antiocheni circumfe- Acta Sanctorum, under the date of the 1st of Feb.
runtur Libri duo, 4to. Geneva, 1856. The works The Martyrium was first printed in Latin by
of Ignatius form the subject of the second book. archbishop Usher, who gave two distinct ver-
This attack of Daillé called forth the Vindiciae sions from different MSS. The Greek text was
Ignatianae of Bishop Pearson, 4to. Cambridge, first printed by Ruinart in his Acta Martyrum
1672, which may be considered as having ex- Sincera (4to. Paris, 1689) from a MS. in the Col-
hausted the controversy. The subsequent contri- bertine library, and in a revised edition in Le
butions to the discussion do not require notice. Clerc's Cotelerius. It is given by Jacobson and by
The genuineness and substantial integrity of the most of the later editors of the Epistles. Its
seven epistles in the shorter form may be consi- genuineness is generally recognised; but it is
dered as now generally recognised.
thought to be interpolated. See the remarks of
The Epistles of Ignatius are characterised by Grabe quoted by Jacobson at the end of the Mar
simplicity of thought and by piety. His eagerness tyrium. A considerable fragment of an ancient
to obtain the crown of martyrdom has been cen- Syriac version of the Martyrium of Ignatius is
sured ; and his zeal in enforcing the claims of the published by Mr. Cureton.
bishops and clergy to reverence and obedience is A recent discovery promises to reopen the ques-
very great. Perhaps this characteristic, which has tion, as to the integrity of the shorter epistles.
quickened the suspicions of, or objections to, the Several writers, including Beausobre, Lardner,
genuineness of the Epistles, may be rather regarded and Priestly, had expressed their suspicion or
as an argument that they were written while those conviction, that there were in them interpola-
claims were by no means generally admitted. His tions, more or less considerable. An ancient
zeal in enforcing them is an indication of their Syriac version of the epistles to Polycarp, to the
being disputed, as men do not 'contend for what Romans, and to the Ephesians, recently discovered,
no one denies. The Greek style of Ignatius is by gives reason to believe that the interpolations are
no means good, which is accounted for by the cir- very considerable. This version was discovered
cumstance of Greek not being his vernacular among the MSS. of the library of the Syriac con-
tongue.
vent of the desert of Nitria in Egypt, which has
The most complete and valuable edition of Igna- been lately purchased by the trustees of the Bri-
tius is that contained in the Patres Apostolici of tish Museum. These epistles have been published
Cotelerius, the second edition of which by Le by the Rev. W. Cureton, of the British Museum
Clerc (2 volg. fol. Amsterdam. 1724) contains the (The Ancient Syriac Version of the Epistles of St.
two recensions of the genuine epistles, all the spu- Ignatius, &c. , by William Cureton, M. A. 8vo.
rious epistles (Greek and Latin), with the epistles London. 1845), from two MSS. , of which one,
of Mary of Cassobelae and of the Virgin ; the two containing the epistle to Polycarp, is assigned by
ancient Latin versions (the common one and him to the sixth century ; the other, containing
Usher's), the Martyrium Ignatii
, the Dissertationes the other two epistles, belongs, in his judgment, to
(i. e. thé Introduction) of Usher, the Vindiciae of the seventh or eighth century. The Syriac Epistle
Pearson, a Dissertatio de Ignatianis Epistolis, by I to Polycarp contains scarcely anything of c. vii. and
c
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IGNATIUS.
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567
viii. , which, in the Greek text, form the close of | must have been after the death of Nicephorus.
the epistle. The Epistle to the Ephesians omits, He wrote several other works which are un-
with some trifling exceptions, c. ii. -vii. , xi. - xxi. ; published, and a list of which is given by Fabricius.
beside the greater part of c. ix. ; the omitted por (Suidas, s. v. 'lyvários; Acla Sanctorum, U. cc. ;
tion forming two-thirds of the Epistle in Greek. Fabric. Bibl. Graec. vol. i. p. 635, vi. p. 370, vii.
The Epistle to the Romans omits considerable por- p. 45, x. pp. 297, 329. )
tions of c. i. -iii. , nearly the whole of c vi. -viii. , 3. Of CONSTANTINOPLE, competitor with Pho
the greater part of c. ix. , and the whole of c. x. tius for the patriarchate in the ninth century. His
The conclusion of the Epistle to the Romans in original name was Nicetas (Nuntas). He was
Syriac consists of what appears in the Greek as son of the emperor Michael 1. Curopalata or Rhan-
c. iv. -v. of the Epistle to the Trallians. Mr. gabe (MICHAEL I. ), by Procopia, daughter of the
Cureton gives an English version, interpaged with emperor Nicephorus I. Logotheta, predecessor of
the Syriac text, and subjoins the Greek text con- Michael. During the short reign of his father
formed to the Syriac, the parts expunged being (A. D. 811-813), Nicetas commanded the Icanates
printed at the foot of the page. In a valuable or life-guards, having been appointed to the post
preface he reviews the history of the Greek text at about ten years of age, and manifested a desire
of the Epistles, gives an interesting account of the to gain the favour of the soldiers : he also acquired
fruitless endeavours made in the seventeenth cen- some knowledge and experience in public business.
tury, by Mr. Huntington, chaplain at Aleppo, If his age is accurately stated, he must have been
(afterwards Provost of Trinity College, Dublin, born just about the commencement of the century.
and Bishop of Raphoe), to discover the Syriac On the deposition of Michael, and the accession of
version, and the more recent and successful efforts. Leo V. the Armenian (Leo V. ), the deposed em-
He discusses the question whether the Syriac text peror and his family shaved their heads, and took
is to be preferred to the Greek, and argues strongly refuge in the church called Pharos (Þápos). Their
for its superiority. The interpolations, several of lives were spared, but Nicetas was castrated, and
which enforce clerical and episcopal authority, was obliged to embrace a monastic life, on which
while others support the deity of Jesus Christ, he occasion his name was changed to Ignatius. As
considers to be subsequent to and intended to bear he is said to have been about fourteen at this time,
upon the Arian (ARIUS) and Aerian (AERIUS) it is probable that these things did not occur till á
controversies. (Pearson, Usher, Jacobson, U. cc. ; year or two after his father's deposition. He was
Lardner, Credibility; Fabric. Bibl. Gr. vol. vii. 32. educated under a severe master, a zealous Iconoclast,
&c. ; Galland, Biblioth. Patrum, vol. i. Proleg. c. and pursued his new career with the energy of which
7, 8 ; Cave, Hist. Litt. vol. i. p. 41, ed. Oxford, he had in his boyhood given indications in secular
1740; Oudin, de Scriptoribus Eccles. vol. i. cod. affairs, acquired great reputation for sanctity, and
71 ; Ceillier, Auteurs Sacrés, vol. i. p. 620. ) became hegumenos or head of the monastery of
The name of Ignatius was borne by several of Satyrus at Constantinople. He was ordained pres-
the later patriarchs of Antioch. (See the Hist. byter by Basil, bishop of the church Kard to
Chronol. Patriarch. Antioch. prefixed to the Ada Nápeov. It is probable that in the Iconoclastic
Sanctorum Julii, vol. iv. ; and Fabric. Bibl. Graec. controversy which was then maging in the East, he
vol. xiv. p. 38, &c. , ed. vet. )
was, notwithstanding his education, one of the
2. Of CONSTANTINOPLE, where he was deacon champions of images ; for on the death of Metho-
and sceuophylax, or keeper of the sacred vessels in dius, patriarch of Constantinople, whose zeal on the
the great church. He lived in the latter part of the same side had entailed upon him much suffering,
eighth and the beginning of the ninth century, Ignatius was elevated to the patriarchate, by the
during the patriarchate of Tarasius (A. D. 784— patronage of the empress Theodora (THEODORA),
806) and Nicephorus (A. D. 806—815), with both the guardian of her son Michael III. during his
of whom he appears to have been connected either minority (MICHAEL III. ) and the restorer of
as disciple or friend. He was instructed by Tara- image worship. The date of the elevation of Igna-
sius in poetical composition. He was raised to the tius is not quite certain ; it was probably in A. D.
metropolitan see of Nicaea, but at what date is not 846 or 847. Symeon Magister places it in the 11th
ascertained. It was certainly not till after the year of Michael, A. D. 853 or 854, but this is too late.
second Nicene, or seventh oecumenical council, at Ignatius, at his consecration, desired Gregory As-
which Hypatius appeared as archbishop of Nicaea; bestas, bishop of Syracuse, in Sicily (GREGORIUS,
and it was probably not till after the death of Tara- No. 35), who was then at Constantinople, to absent
sius, or even of Nicephorus, who died deposed and himself, as being under accusation. This provoked
in exile A. D. 828. Nothing is known of the time Gregory's anger, and was the source of much trouble
of the death of Ignatius. He wrote, 1. Bios Tapa- to Ignatius himself. As the dissolute propensities
olov toll Matpıdpxou KwvotaVTIVOURólews, Vita Ta- of Michael were developed with his years, Ignatius
rasü Patriarchae CPolitani. This is extant in the became the object of insult to the emperor's profii-
griginal Greek in MS. , but has not been published. gate minion, Gryllus : and when the influence of
A Latin version is given in the De Probatis Sanc- Theodora was destroyed, and herself driven away
torum Vitis of Surius, and in the Acta Sanctorum from the court by her ambitious brother, the Caesar
of the Bollandists, Februar. 25, vol. iii. p. 576. Bardas, Ignatius was exposed to more serious
2. Βίος του αγίου Νικηφόρου, Πατριάρχου Κων- | hostility. He had refused compliance with the
OTANTIVOUTÓNews, Vita S. Nicephori Patriarchae emperor's wish to make his mother and sister nuns
CPolitani. This is given in the Acta Sanctorum, against their will; and in addition to the em-
Marti, 13, vol. ii. appendix, p. 704 ; and a Latin peror's hostility, he had incurred also the personal
version in the body of the vol. p. 294. As in the hatred of the Caesar. Bardas had been accused by
title of this work the author is called Diaconus report of incest with the wife of his own son ; and
CPolitanns, we are led to suppose that he was not as he had refused to listen to the rebukes of the pa-
yet archbishop of Nicaea when he wrote it, which briarch, Ignatius, on his coming to the communion,
004
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IGNATIUS.
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Dess,
I
had refused to admit him, notwithstanding his " to retire (oxonástiv) until Ignatius should die,"
threats of deposition and violence. Provoked by indicates perhaps that the restoration of Ignatius
his excommunication, the Caesar forcibly expelled was the subject of an arrangement between the
Ignatius from the church, on a charge of being a competitors, a conjecture which is strengthened by
transgressor and corrupter (åvopov kad poopéa), and the fact that on the death of Ignatius, Photius was
caused Photius (Photius] to be elected patriarch again placed on the patriarchal throne. Ignatius
in his place (A. D. 858). The appointment of died. A. D. 877, or 878, or possibly 879, being
Photius is said by the biographer of Ignatius to nearly or quite 80 years old, and much reverenced
have been irregularly made by secular persons, for the holiness of his life. He was buried in the
but some bishops seem to have been on that side ; monastery of Satyrus, which he bad rebuilt not
and there appears to have been a council of eccle- very long before his decease. Some letters or other
siastics convened to make the change, in which the pieces of Ignatius are found among the Acta of the
metropolitans of the patriarchate acquiesced, on the eighth general council. (Nicetas Paphlago, Blos
understanding that Ignatius should be courteously Toll dylou ’lyvatlou, Vita S. Ignatii, apud Concilia
and reverently treated by his successful rival. The Binii, vol.
