February 1 is one date (along with October 17 on other calendars) for commemorating St. Ignatius, bishop of Antioch and apostolic father, martyred in Rome between 105 and 115 A.D. Although perhaps a little too zealous about martyrdom, the example and writings of Ignatius provide a strong witness to faith in the redemptive work of Christ and to the importance of the Eucharist.
Ignatius also writes about the importance of bishops. However, one must be cautious in considering his comments. At his time in history, the comments of Ignatius about bishops refer to the chief pastors in local churches; he is not referring to the state-endorsed diocesan hierarchy that developed in the Roman Empire, medieval Europe, or the Church of England. When Ignatius stresses the authority of the bishop, he is referring to a local chief pastor who oversees his assistants (presbyters) for theological and spiritual purposes. He wants to counteract contemporary tendencies toward heresy and schism. Ignatius honors the office of bishop, but he does not give blanket approval to the pretensions of all the later ecclesiastical bureaucrats who claimed the episcopal title. Thus, if one reads carefully in historical context, Ignatius is commending respect for the role of the bishop as chief pastor who continues the apostolic ministry and seeks to unify his assistants and parishioners in the Christian faith. This remains the calling of godly bishops.
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