Quotes from Ignatius of Antioch

I have no taste for corruptible food nor for the pleasures of this life. I desire the Bread of God, which is the Flesh of Jesus Christ, who was of the seed of David, and for drink I desire His Blood, which is love incorruptible.

It is outrageous to utter the name of Jesus Christ and live in Judaism.

The Lord did nothing either of himself or through his apostles without his Father, with whom he is united; so too, you should undertake nothing without the bishop and the presbyters priests.

Pray to Christ for me that the animals will be the means of making me a sacrificial victim for God.

I have many deep thoughts in God, but I take my own measure, lest I perish by boasting... For I myself, though I am in chains and can comprehend heavenly things, the ranks of the angels and the hierarchy of principalities, things visible and invisible, for all this I am not yet a disciple.

Even the heavenly powers and the angels in their splendor and the principalities, both visible and invisible, must either believe in the Blood of Christ, or else face damnation.

Your accord and harmonious love is a hymn to Jesus Christ...in perfect harmony, and taking your pitch from God, you may sing in unison and in one voice to the Father through Jesus Christ.

Wherever the bishop appears, there let the people be, even as wheresoever Christ Jesus is, there is the catholic church.

Let not then any one deceive you, as indeed you are not deceived, in as much as you are wholly devoted to God.

Let us therefore be of a reverent spirit, and fear the long-suffering of God, that it tend not to our condemnation.

Only let it be in the name of Jesus Christ, that I may suffer together with Him! I endure everything because He Himself, Who is perfect man, empowers me.

Do everything as if He were dwelling in us. Thus we shall be His temples and He will be within us as our God - as He actually is.