Saint Ignatius Theophorus

Hand painted icon of Saint Ignatius Theophorus, made in Mount Athos, on natural wood. The icon is delivered in a wooden box.

There are no clear references regarding the birth and origin of Saint Ignatius. He was enthroned as Bishop of Antioch around 68-70 AD. When Emperor Trajan arrived in Antioch, he initiated persecution against christians. At that time, Saint Ignatius courageously defended the christian faith, leading to his severe martyrdom in the Colossae of Rome. It is said that he prevented the christians from rescuing him before the execution of his martyrdom. According to tradition, there are two possible explanations for the epithet he received as ‘Theophorus’, meaning ‘God-Bearer’. The first explanation suggests that Ignatius was the child whom Jesus Christ presented to his Disciples as a symbol of humility (Matt. 18:1-5). The second explanation states that he remained faithful to the teachings of Jesus Christ until the end, as mentioned in the Second Epistle of John «He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son». Our Church honors his memory on December 20th.