Today, the Malankara Syrian Catholic Church honours the memory of Saint Ignatius Noorono (also known as Mor Ignatius), revered as a significant patriarch in the ecclesiastical history. The Church recalls his legacy with respect and devotion, especially on this auspicious day, celebrated by the Mavelikara Diocese under the spiritual leadership of His Excellency Joshua Mar Ignatius.
Saint Ignatius Noorono, believed to be the child whom Jesus placed among His disciples as described in Matthew 18:2-4, became the third Patriarch of Antioch and all the East. He is traditionally proclaimed to be the same child, and his name, ‘Theophorus,’ meaning ‘God-bearer,’ is a testament to his profound faith and exemplary life.
Born around AD 25, Mor Ignatius’s name – ‘Noorono’ in Syriac, meaning ‘fiery’ or ‘full of fire’ – paralleled the Greek ‘Ignatius,’ epitomizing the fervent flame of faith he carried within. Antioch was a principal city in the early Christian era, where the followers of Christ were first called Christians. It is where Saint Peter, the chief among apostles, established the first episcopal seat in AD 37, before departing to preach the Gospel in the West, leaving Evodius as his successor.
Saint Ignatius Noorono, later, unified the Judeo-Christian and Gentile-Christian communities under one patriarchal authority, thus becoming a pivotal figure in the early Church. His writings, along with the accounts of his martyrdom described by his companions Philo, Agathopus, and Crocus, are the primary sources of his life and mission.
The tradition of antiphonal singing in Christian liturgy, particularly in Eastern Churches, is attributed to Saint Ignatius Noorono. He reportedly witnessed heavenly angels praising God in such a manner during a vision. His era was marked by persecutions under emperors Nero (AD 54-81) and Domitian (AD 81-96), followed by Trajan, who intensified the oppression, leading to Ignatius’s martyrdom.
Captured during an earthquake which Trajan superstitiously blamed on Christian idolatry resistance, Saint Ignatius was sentenced to be fed to wild beasts in Rome. Facing martyrdom with joy, he offered his final prayers, expressing his readiness to be united with Christ. His bones were later collected by his followers and returned to Antioch.
The martyrdom of Saint Ignatius Noorono played a role in softening Emperor Trajan’s heart, eventually leading to the cessation of Christian persecution. His teachings remain foundational in the doctrine of the universal Church, emphasizing the sanctity and purpose of the Church, the divine institution of the priesthood, and the episcopal authority as the central and complete power within the Church structure.
On this commemorative day, the Mavelikara Diocese, led by His Excellency Joshua Mar Ignatius, extends prayerful greetings, reflecting on the words of prayer attributed to Saint Ignatius Noorono, seeking the mercy and grace of the Lord and the sanctification through Christ’s suffering.
As the Syro Malankara Catholic Church celebrates this significant feast, we join in spirit with the Mavelikara Diocese, offering prayers and best wishes to His Excellency Joshua Mar Ignatius on this blessed occasion.
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