Martyrdom, Sacrificial Libation, and the Eucharist of Ignatius of Antioch

Frederick G. Klawiter argues that in Ignatius¿ eucharist, a wine libation symbolized the pouring out of Jesus¿ blood in his sacrificial death. By drinking from the libation cup in the eucharist/agape meal, Christians sought unity of agape with one another and the crucified, risen Jesus¿while anticipating the possibility of martyrdom.