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Where did St. Ignatius of Antioch write his seven surviving letters?
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St. Ignatius of Antioch
Painting of St. Ignatius of Antioch, tempera and oil paint on panel by an anonymous artist, 1400–99.
St. Ignatius of Antioch wrote his seven surviving letters while being escorted as a prisoner to Rome for his execution. He composed these letters during two specific stops on his journey:12
- Smyrna (modern İzmir, Turkey): While staying here, Ignatius wrote to the churches of Ephesus, Magnesia ad Maeandrum, and Tralles, as well as a letter to the church in Rome.3
- Troas: During his subsequent stay in this district, he wrote to the congregations at Philadelphia and Smyrna, and addressed a personal letter to St. Polycarp.3