apostolicfathers0201clem - Carmel Apologetics

34 EPISTLES OF S. IGNATIUS.
traverses Asia Minor from East to West bifurcates'. The northern
branch crosses the Dervend pass into the valleys of the Cogamus and
Hermus, and passing through Philadelphia and Sardis conducts the
traveller to Smyrna. The southern road keeps along the valley of the
Mseander, passing through Tralles and Magnesia ;
from which latter
city it crosses the depression in the mountain-range of Messogis northward
and so reaches Ephesus (see ii. pp. 2, 241). At this bifurcation
Ignatius must have taken the northern road;
for we hear of him at
Philadelphia. Of his sojourn there occasional notices are preserved in
his subsequent letter to the Church of Philadelphia (11. p. 241). His
From Phila-
reception there had not been in all respects satisfactory.
delphia he would go to Sardis, where doubtless he lialted, though this
city
is not named in his extant letters. From Sardis he would travel to
Smyrna. At Smyrna he was hospitably received by Polycarp and the
Church,
It would appear that, while Ignatius himself took the northern road
at the bifurcation, tidings travelled along
the southern road to the
churches situated thereon, Tralles, Magnesia, and Ephesus, informing
them that the saint would make a halt at Smyrna, so that any delegates
whom they might send would have an opportunity of conferring with
him there. Accordingly on or soon after his arrival at Smyrna, he
was joined by representatives from all these churches. Ephesus, the
nearest of the three,
sent the bishop Onesimus {Ephes. i, 5, 6), a deacon
Burrhus, and three other delegates. Crocus, Euplus, and Fronto, of whose
rank or office the saint says nothing {Ephes. 2). Through this large
representation he seemed to see the whole church with the eyes of love.
These Ephesian delegates were a great comfort and refreshment to him
{Ephes. 21, Magti. 15, Trail. 13, Eom. 10). Of Onesimus he speaks in
terms of the highest admiration and love. Burrhus was so useful to him,
that he prayed the Ephesians to allow him to remain in his company
{Ephes. 2).
This prayer was granted ;
and Burrhus afterwards accompanied
him as far as Troas, where he acted as his amanuensis {Philad.
II, Smyrti. 12). Of Crocus also he speaks in affectionate terms {Jiom.
10). Of the remaining two, Euplus and Fronto, the names only are
recorded. At the same time Magnesia, lying only a few hours farther
off than Ephesus, sent an equally adequate representation, her bishop
Damas, her presbyters Bassus and ApoUonius, and her deacon Zotion
{Magn. 2).
Of all these Ignatius speaks in language of high commen-
^
Herod, vii. 31 ws 5^ e/c rijs ^pvyirjs (pepov(n]s, ttJs di is de^i^v is SdpSt k.t.X.
effi^aXe is tvjv AvSitjv, axi-^ofxivris Trjs Xerxes, like Ignatius, took the road
oSou, Koi ryjs (iiv is dpiaTepTJi' eVt KapLijs througii Sardis.