St. Ignatius of Antioch
Patron Saint of the Church in Eastern Mediterranean and in North Africa
St. Ignatius of Antioch was a bishop and martyr in the early Church, well-known for his writings on Christology and ecclesiology. He wrote extensive letters to Christian communities that we can still read and learn from today. Prior to his death, he wrote: “I prefer death in Christ Jesus to power over the farthest limits of the earth. He who died in place of us is the one object of my quest. He who rose for our sakes is my one desire.”