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To Polycarp
St Ignatius of Antioch, Lake, Loeb 1912
Chapter 8
Request for Polycarp to write to other Churches
Since I could not write to all the Churches because of my sudden sailing from Troas to Neapolis1 as the will of God enjoins, you shall write as one possessing the mind of God to the Churches on the road in front of me, that they also shall treat me in the same way (let those who can send messengers, and the others send letters through those whom you send, that you2 may be glorified by a memorable deed), as is worthy of you.
Final greetings
I greet all by name, and the wife of the Procurator3 with the whole house of herself and her children. I greet my beloved Attalus. I greet him who shall be appointed to go to Syria. Grace will be with him through all, and with Polycarp, who sends him.
I bid you farewell always in our God, Jesus Christ; may you remain in him in the unity and care of God. I greet Alce, a name very dear to me. Farewell in the Lord.
Notes
- The modern Cavalla, on the coast of Macedonia, between Constantinople and Salonica; the Roman road comes down to the sea there, and is still in fair preservation.
- Modern English obscures the fact that this “you” is plural. The others are singular.
- Or, perhaps, “of Epitropus.”