Commemoration of the Pontiffs Sts. Ignatius, Adde and Bishop Maruta

According to the tradition Pontiff St. Ignatius was the happy child whom Jesus took in his arms, and appealing to the apostles said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt. 18:3). He was the disciple of the Apostles Peter and John, as well as the second Bishop of Antioch and was very popular in the East. During the period of reign of the king Trayanos he was imprisoned and accompanied by the soldiers was sent to Rome, where he was martyred in 113-117 voluntarily bringing himself sacrifice to the lions. He has written many letters addressed to various Christian communities, only seven of which have been preserved.

Pontiff St. Adde was the Bishop of Yedessia ordained by the Apostle St. Thaddeus. He was martyred upon the order of the heathen king in the second quarter of the I century.

Bishop St. Maruta was the Bishop of the city Nprkert of the Fourth Hayk. His father was Assyrian, and mother – Armenian. He was very popular in Persia and Byzantine. He has participated in the Second Ecumenical Council of Constantinople. As the envoy of the Theodos he was twice sent to the Persian King Hazkert to negotiate on stopping the Christians’ persecutions. He passed away in 422.