St. Ignatius on Church Structure

When the man who was mentored by Saint John the Apostle tells you how the Church is structured, should not his words be heeded?

St. Ignatius of Antioch.

"In like manner let everyone respect the deacons as they would respect Jesus Christ, and just as they respect the bishop as a type (icon) of the Father, and the presbyters (priests) as the council of God and college of the apostles. Without these, it cannot be called a Church. I am confident that you accept this, for I have received the exemplar of your love and have it with me in the person of your bishop. His very demeanor is a great lesson and his meekness is his strength. I believe that even the godless do respect him (Letter to the Trallians 3:1-2 [A. D. 110])"


"Follow your bishop, every one of you, as obediently as Jesus Christ followed the Father. Obey your clergy too as you would the apostles; give your deacons the same reverence that you would to a command of God. Make sure that no step affecting the Church is ever taken by anyone without the bishop’s sanction. The sole Eucharist you should consider valid is one that is celebrated by the bishop himself, or by some person authorized by him."  Letter to the Smyrneans, A.D 110.