The Apostolic Fathers · AD 70–130
Crocus of Ephesus
fl. c. 108 (death unrecorded) · Ephesian companion of Ignatius · Ephesus → Rome
The Apostolic Fathers
Who Crocus of Ephesus was
An Ephesian believer who so embodied his church’s love that Ignatius made his name a token of it — “Crocus, worthy of God and of you, whom I received as the manifestation of your love.” He accompanied the prisoner as far as Rome, one of the small band of Asian Christians who would not let Ignatius travel to the beasts alone.
Common questions
When was Crocus active?
Crocus of Ephesus is dated fl. c. 108 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Crocus in the Apostolic Fathers (AD 70–130). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
Which early sources mention Crocus?
Crocus of Ephesus is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Ignatius of Antioch. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Crocus from?
The archive associates Crocus of Ephesus with Ephesus, Rome. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Who were Crocus’ contemporaries?
The archive links Crocus of Ephesus to 3 other figures, including Ignatius of Antioch, Burrhus of Ephesus and Euplus of Ephesus. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (2)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
To the Romans 10.1 (the letter written 'by Crocus')
c. AD 107Crocus also, a name very dear to me, salutes you.Ignatius of Antioch · To the Romans 10 · source text
To the Ephesians 2
c. AD 108…concerning Crocus, worthy of God and of you, whom I received as an example of your love, hath in all things refreshed me.Ignatius of Antioch · 2 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 44 · Persecution under Herod Agrippa I, AD 44
- AD 49 · The Council of Jerusalem, AD 49
- AD 57 · Paul writes Romans, AD 57
- AD 62 · James the Just stoned, AD 62
- AD 64 · The Great Fire and Nero’s persecution, AD 64
- AD 70 · The fall of Jerusalem, AD 70
- AD 95 · Domitian’s reprisals, AD 95
- AD 96 · Rome writes to Corinth: 1 Clement, AD 96
Place
Places served
The 2 places the sources put Crocus, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route.