Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 10.djvu/517

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IGNATIEFF. 451 IGNATIUS OF AUTIOCH. post until the outbreak of the Russo-Turkish war in 1877. He was an active agent in the events of this exciting and critical period, en- couraging tile restlessness of the Christian peo- ples of the Balkans, while endeavoring to main- tain the Russian inlluence over the Sultan. In the pursuit of his ends Ignatieff did not hesitate to resort to duplicity and the basest kind of in- trigue, and succeeded in gaining the sobriquet of 'Liar Pasha.' Through such means he was quite successful in maintaining the Russian influence during the life of Abdul Aziz, but after the lat- ter's violent death and the deposition of Amurath V. (1870), the anti-Russian influence became predominant with Abdul Hamid, and events moved rapidly toward war. After the conference at Constantinople during the winter of 1870-77, Ignatieff hastened to Berlin, Vienna, and London on diplomatic business. At the close of the war he participated in the negotiations of Adrianople, and was mainly responsible for the Treaty of San Stefano. On account of disagreements with Gort- chakofi', he retired from office, but on the accession of Ale.xander III. (1881) he was recalled and made Minister of the Imperial Domains, and then of the Interior. While holding this office he at- tained prominence as a persecutor of the .Jews. Tliis. as well as his opposition to M. de Giers, led to his retirement a second time. .June 21, 1882. He subsequently participated in public affairs only as member of the Coimcil of the Empire and of the Senate. He is a prominent figure in the Pan-Slavic or Nationalist Party. IGNATIUS, ig-na'shi-us. Saint (c.790-878). A patriareli of Constantinople, youngest son of the Emperor ilichael I. In 813 the Armenian usurper Leo V. forced him to enter a cloister. From the position of abbot the Empress Theo- dora raised him to that of Patriarch of Constan- tinople (847). He had no sympathy with the iconoclasts, and so was in favor with the Em- press. On the other hand, he excommunicated her brother Bardas. who made him one of his first victims when he took the reins of govern- ment for the young Michael III. (857). Ignatius refused to abdicate, until forced to do so in 80G. He was reinstated on the accession of the Emperor Basil in 867. He is still a favorite saint in the Greek Church. IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH, Saint. Bishop of Antioch in the reign of Trajan, and author of seven Greek letters which are included among the works of the Apostolic Fathers (q.v.). Little is known of Ignatius's life. He was born prob- ably not far from the middle of the first century. Syria appears to have been his home. Tradition says that he was a disciple of the Apostle .Jolin, which is not impossible. Much less likely is the tradition which makes him the child whom Jesus took in His arms and blessed. There is no reasonable ground for doubting that Ignatius was Bishop of Anlioc'h, but we do not know how long he held that office. The statement of Origen and Eusebius that he was the second Bishop may be accepted. This leaves Peter out of account, and makes Ignatius the successor of Evodius. Respecting the close of his life, we have more definite information. He was con- demned to be killed by wild beasts in the arena, and for that purpose was taken to Rome, under guard of ten Roman soldiers. They passed through Asia Minor, stopping here and there, and being received with Christian hospitality by tha churches along their route. At Smyrna Ignatius wrote letters to the churches of Ephesus, Mag- nesia, Tralles, and Rome. Further on, at Troas, he wrote to the Philadelphians, the Smyrnseans, and to Polycarp, Bisliop of Smyrna. He then was led to Rome, where he sulfered martj'rdom, probably at some time between 107 and 117 a.d. The most definite early statements point to the tenth year of Trajan, which would be 107- 108. It was believed, at a considerably later time, that his remains were carried to Antioch for burial. The extant Martyr Acts of Ignatius are not authentic. Long and bitter controversy has raged over the epistles which' bear his name. They are extant in several different versions, especially three: (1) The longer Greek, contain- ing thirteen epistles; (2) the shorter Greek, con- taining seven epistles; (3) the Hyriac, containing only three epistles. The critical question is. Which form, if any, is the genuine one? Opin- ions have varied widely. It has been held (a) that all the recensions are spurious; (b) that the shorter Greek form alone is genuine; (c) that the Syriac alone is genuine; (d) that, of the shorter Greek form, all the epistles except Romans are genuine; and (e) that Romans only is a genuine epistle. The best modern criticism holds to the authenticity of the seven epistles in the shorter Greek form. Tiiere is almost contem- porary witness borne to the Ignatian letters in the Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians (see POLYC.BP ) . Accepting these seven as genuine letters of Ignatius, we learn to know their autlior as a fen-ent, enthusiastic Christian bishop, of intense zeal for martyrdom. He constantly insists on maintaining allegiance and obedience to the bishop, who is the centre of unity. It is evident that the monarchical episcopate, i.e. the system of having one bishop over each church, had al- ready been developed in Syria and other portions of the East, whatever may have been the case elsewhere. The heresy against which Ignatius warns is chiefly docetism. for he declares that Christ suffered in fact, not merely in appear- ance. He also warns against .Judai'zing heresies. From the doctrinal point of view. Ignatius is liiglily important, standing as lie does in the line of catholic development which passes from Paul and .John, through Ignatius and Irc- na?us. to the full-grown Xicene theolog}-. It is in his letter to the Christians of Smyrna that we meet for the first time with the phrase 'the Catholic Church.' It does not. however, bear its later, technical sense of the exclusive orthodox Church, but its earlier, etymological meaning of ■the universal Church.' A'e owe to Ignatius the application of the term 'eucharist' to the Lord's Supper. But above all else, his epistles bear witness to the earnest, devoted spirit of earlv second-century Christianity, and to the vitality of faith in the age succeeding that of the Apostles. For the best edition of Ignatius, consult: Lightfoot, The Apostolic Fathers: Part 11.. S. Iqnatius and .S. Polycarp (London. 1880). with English translation. Text and translation are also found in the small edition of Lightfoot, .[postolic Fathers, by Hanner (London. 1893); English translation ' alone in the .inte-Xicene Fathers, edited by Roberts and Donaldson, vol. i. (Buffalo, 1886)." In general, consult: Crutt-