The following bears repeating, especially considering the fact that St. Ignatius was instructed by the apostle John.
“They [heretics] abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they confess not the Eucharist to be the flesh of our Saviour Jesus Christ, which suffered for our sins, and which the Father, of His goodness, raised up again... It is fitting, therefore, that ye should keep aloof from such persons, and not to speak of them either in private or in public… See that ye all follow the bishop, even as Jesus Christ does the Father, and the presbytery as ye 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.”Ignatius of Antioch [50-117 AD]
Epistle to the Smyraeans
Thank you for your kind words.
I agree that St. Ignatius of Antioch lays out the Church’s position for both the Eucharist and valid Orders so clearly in his writings.