Ignatius of Antioch was an early Christian bishop, theologian, and martyr who lived around the late 1st and early 2nd centuries AD. As the Bishop of Antioch, he played a crucial role in shaping early Christian theology and church structure. On his way to execution in Rome, he wrote seven influential letters to Christian communities, emphasizing unity, obedience to bishops, and the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. His writings offer some of the earliest insights into Christian doctrine and practice. He is venerated as a saint in both Eastern and Western Christian traditions. His martyrdom inspired many early Christians.