Saint Ignatius of Antioch was a Disciple of Saint John the Apostle, Disciple of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. He died in A.D. 107. Here is his Wikipedia Page:
"Ignatius of Antioch (/ɪɡˈneɪʃəs/; Greek: Ἰγνάτιος Ἀντιοχείας, Ignátios Antiokheías; died c. 108/140 AD),[3][4][8][9][10] also known as Ignatius Theophorus (Ἰγνάτιος ὁ Θεοφόρος, Ignátios ho Theophóros, lit. "the God-bearing"), was an early Christian writer and Patriarch of Antioch. While en route to Rome, where he met his martyrdom, Ignatius wrote a series of letters. This correspondence now forms a central part of a later collection of works known to be authored by the Apostolic Fathers. He is considered to be one of the three most important of these, together with Clement of Rome and Polycarp. His letters also serve as an example of early Christian theology. Important topics they address include ecclesiology, the sacraments, and the role of bishops."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignatius_of_AntiochChapter 8. Let nothing be done without the Bishop
"See that you all follow the bishop, even as Jesus Christ does the Father, and the presbytery as you would the apostles; and reverence the deacons, as being the institution of God. Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. Let that be deemed a proper Eucharist, which is [administered] either by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it.
Wherever the Bishop shall appear, there let the multitude [of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. It is not lawful without the bishop either to baptize or to celebrate a love-feast; but whatsoever he shall approve of, that is also pleasing to God, so that everything that is done may be secure and valid." (Epistle to the Smyrnaens Chapter 8 ).
https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0109.htmIn this Early Christian Epistle, written less than 100 years after Christ's death, we see already (1) The Catholic Church is the True Apostolic Church founded by Jesus Christ (2) There are to be Bishops and Priests or Presbyters in the Church, just like there still are in the Catholic Church nearly 2000 years later. And most important, as the rest of the Epistle makes clear (3) the Eucharist is the Real Flesh and True Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This we read in Gospel of St. John Ch. 6, and this Disciple of St. John, the Apostle of Christ, St. Ignatius of Antioch, makes clear the Early Church's belief in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. Thoughts and comments are welcome.
God Bless.
