Ignatius of Antioch and Polycarp of Smyrna were two of the
greatest leaders of Christianity in the first half of the second
century. Both suffered martyrdom: Ignatius in Rome during the
reign of Trajan, and Polycarp in Smyrna some time in the mid-
century. The letters of Ignatius advance the teachings of Christ
and the apostles on such important subjects as church unity, the
Eucharist, and the governmental structure of the church. The
Martyrdom of Polycarp represents one of the earliest and most
inspiring accounts of a Christian martyr that we possess. Their
combined writings provide a unique window on the faith, life and
practice of Christians in the second century. Careful reading of
these writings demonstrates the unique place that the early
fathers of the church hold in establishing the foundations of
historic Christianity. Their relevance for contemporary
ecumenical discussions is beyond dispute. Customer Questions &
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