Now what does Ignatius have to say
about the Church of Rome? In the prologue to his Letter to the Romans,
the bishop of Antioch observes that the Church of Rome presides in love: προκαθημενη της
αγαπης. It is important to note here that Ignatius is
not referring to the pope (or bishop) of Rome, but to the Church of Rome. It
has been argued that Ignatius may not have been aware of the Roman pontiff’s
name.
Still, the word “love” (αγαπη) is more pertinent here. Is the word “love” a
designation of the brotherhood or charity that united and bound Christians
throughout the world, in accordance with Christ’s exhortation to his disciples:
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for
one another” (Jn 13.35). (In this case, scholars have sometimes read the papacy
into the phrase; however, this would probably be reading too much into Ignatius)
A second interpretation understands the word αγαπη in
the literal and ordinary sense of “Love.” This would mean that the phrase
suggests an expression of mere courtesy, ascribing to Rome a special place of
honor but not necessarily a status of privilege. (The Greek phrase “privilege of
honor” [πρεσβεια τιμης] was later translated into Latin by, among
others, the monk Dionysius Exiguus at the beginning of the sixth century as ‘”primacy”
[primatus]) Finally, does the word αγαπη denote
the Eucharist? This would imply that προκαθημενη
signifies presiding over the
Eucharist, which in turn would indicate a local Church or community since there
can only be a local eucharistic assembly. Inasmuch as Ignatius places great
emphasis and importance on the celebration of the Eucharist in the defined region
(The literal sense of the word “parish” in Greek: εν-ορια) of the
local community under the presidency of the local bishop, this last
interpretation is probably also the most likely. (John Chryssavgis, “The
Apostolic Tradition: Historical and Theological Principles,” in Primacy in
the Church: The Office of Primate and the Authority of Councils, ed. John
Chryssavgis, 2 vols. [Yonkers, N.Y.: St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2016], 1:57)