apostolicfathers0201clem - Carmel Apologetics

36 EPISTLES OF S. IGNATIUS.
by sea — night and day
— he had been 'fighting with wild beasts'. The
gratuities, by which he or his friends sought to appease them, served
only to whet the edge of their cruelty, doubtless as suggesting pleas for
fresh exactions.
From Smyrna he was led to Alexandria Troas, whence, like the
great Apostle in whose footsteps he was treading (Acts xvi. 8, 9), he
would first look upon the shores of Europe. Hither he was accompanied
by Burrhus, as the representative not only of the Ephesians, his
fellow-citizens, but also of the Smyrngeans, his recent hosts. Here too
he was gladdened by two fresh arrivals from his own country and neighbourhood.
Philo a deacon of Cilicia, and Rhaius Agathopus a deacon
would seem) of his own Syrian Church, had followed in his track.
(so it
They had been hospitably welcomed both at Philadelphia and at
Smyrna; though some persons in the former place had treated them
contemptuously, as might have been expected from their attitude
towards the saint himself. They were now at Troas ministering to him
'in the word of God' {Philad. 11, Smyrti. 10, 13). From them doubtless
he had received the welcome intelligence that his dear Church of
Antioch was once more in enjoyment of peace.
From Troas the saint wrote three letters. These three letters differ
from all the preceding in this respect, that they were written to those
on his route. The first and second
whom he had visited personally
were addressed to the Churches of Philadelphia and Smyrna respectively,
the third to Polycarp the bishop of the last-mentioned Church. The
general topics in these are the same as in the previous letters (the
Epistle to the Romans alone excepted). But the altered circumstances
of the Church of Antioch give occasion to a special charge. He desires
that the churches with whom he communicates should send delegates
or (where delegates are not possible) at all events letters to Syria to
congratulate and exhort the Antiochene brotherhood {Philad. 10,
Smyrn. 11). More especially Polycarp
is
enjoined to select an exceptionally
trustworthy representative, to act in this capacity of ' God's
courier ' (Polyc. 7).
The letter to Polycarp was written on the eve of
his departure from Troas to Neapolis. The sailing orders had been
sudden, and he had not had time to write, as he had intended, to all the
churches to this same effect. He begs Polycarp to supply
the omission
{Polyc. 8).
At Neapolis he, like S. Paul, first set foot on the shores of Europe.
From Neapolis he went to Philippi. The Philippians welcomed and
escorted on their way Ignatius and others who like himself were
'
entwined with saintly fetters, the diadems of the truly elect ' (Polyc,