The Martyrdom of Ignatius
Chapter 7: Ignatius Appears in a Vision After His Death
These events occurred on December 20th, thirteen days before the Kalends of January, during the second consulship of Sura and Senecio in Rome. We witnessed these things ourselves and spent the entire night in tears at home, pleading to the Lord with bent knees and many prayers to give us, weak men, full assurance about the events. As it happened, after falling into a brief sleep, some of us saw the blessed Ignatius suddenly standing by us, embracing us, while others saw him praying for us, and still others saw him sweating as if he had just come from his great labor and standing by the Lord. Witnessing these things with great joy, and after discussing our visions with one another, we sang praise to God, the giver of all good things, and expressed our gratitude for the happiness of the holy martyr. We have informed you of both the day and time of these events so that, by gathering together at the time of his martyrdom, we may have fellowship with the champion and noble martyr of Christ, who overcame the devil and completed the course he desired out of love for Christ, in Christ Jesus our Lord. Glory and power be to the Father, with the Holy Spirit, forevermore! Amen.