For every word that went out of his mouth either has been or shall yet be accomplished. But when the adversary of the race of the righteous, the envious , malicious, and wicked one, perceived the impressive nature of his martyrdom , and [considered] the blameless life he had led from the beginning, and how he was now crowned with the wreath of immortality , having beyond dispute received his reward, he did his utmost that not the least memorial of him should be taken away by us, although many desired to do this, and to become possessors of his holy flesh.
For this end he suggested it to Nicetes, the father of Herod and brother of Alce, to go and entreat the governor not to give up his body to be buried, lest, said he, forsaking Him that was crucified, they begin to worship this one. This he said at the suggestion and urgent persuasion of the Jews , who also watched us, as we sought to take him out of the fire, being ignorant of this, that it is neither possible for us ever to forsake Christ , who suffered for the salvation of such as shall be saved throughout the whole world the blameless one for sinners , nor to worship any other.
For Him indeed, as being the Son of God , we adore; but the martyrs , as disciples and followers of the Lord, we worthily love on account of their extraordinary affection towards their own King and Master, of whom may we also be made companions and fellow disciples!
The centurion then, seeing the strife excited by the Jews , placed the body in the midst of the fire, and consumed it. Accordingly, we afterwards took up his bones, as being more precious than the most exquisite jewels, and more purified than gold, and deposited them in a fitting place, whither, being gathered together, as opportunity is allowed us, with joy and rejoicing, the Lord shall grant us to celebrate the anniversary of his martyrdom , both in memory of those who have already finished their course, and for the exercising and preparation of those yet to walk in their steps.
This, then, is the account of the blessed Polycarp , who, being the twelfth that was martyred in Smyrna reckoning those also of Philadelphia , yet occupies a place of his own in the memory of all men , insomuch that he is everywhere spoken of by the heathen themselves. He was not merely an illustrious teacher, but also a pre-eminent martyr , whose martyrdom all desire to imitate, as having been altogether consistent with the Gospel of Christ. For, having through patience overcome the unjust governor, and thus acquired the crown of immortality , he now, with the apostles and all the righteous [in heaven], rejoicingly glorifies God , even the Father , and blesses our Lord Jesus Christ , the Saviour of our souls , the Governor of our bodies, and the Shepherd of the Catholic Church throughout the world.
Since, then, you requested that we would at large make you acquainted with what really took place, we have for the present sent you this summary account through our brother Marcus.
When, therefore, you have yourselves read this Epistle, be pleased to send it to the brethren at a greater distance, that they also may glorify the Lord, who makes such choice of His own servants. To Him who is able to bring us all by His grace and goodness into his everlasting kingdom, through His only-begotten Son Jesus Christ , to Him be glory , and honour , and power, and majesty, forever.
Salute all the saints. They that are with us salute you, and Evarestus, who wrote this Epistle, with all his house. Now, the blessed Polycarp suffered martyrdom on the second day of the month Xanthicus just begun, the seventh day before the Kalends of May, on the great Sabbath , at the eighth hour.
He was taken by Herod, Philip the Trallian being high priest , Statius Quadratus being proconsul, but Jesus Christ being King for ever, to whom be glory , honour , majesty, and an everlasting throne, from generation to generation. We wish you, brethren, all happiness , while you walk according to the doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus Christ ; with whom be glory to God the Father and the Holy Spirit , for the salvation of His holy elect, after whose example the blessed Polycarp suffered, following in whose steps may we too be found in the kingdom of Jesus Christ!
And I Socrates transcribed them at Corinth from the copy of Caius. Grace be with you all. And I again, Pionius , wrote them from the previously written copy, having carefully searched into them, and the blessed Polycarp having manifested them to me through a revelation, even as I shall show in what follows.
I have collected these things, when they had almost faded away through the lapse of time, that the Lord Jesus Christ may also gather me along with His elect into His heavenly kingdom, to whom, with the Father and the Holy Spirit , be glory for ever and ever. Translated by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson. From Ante-Nicene Fathers , Vol. Cleveland Coxe.
Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. He could have escaped to another place but decided to stay. When Polycarp heard that the police were there, he went downstairs and talked with them. Everyone was amazed at his age and courage and wondered why there should be so much haste about arresting an old man like this.
Despite the lateness of the hour, he had a table set for them to eat and drink, as much as they desired. He asked them to give him an hour to pray undisturbed, and they agreed. So Polycarp stood and prayed out loud. He was so filled with the grace of God that, for two hours, he could not be silent. Those who listened were astounded, and many were sorry that they had come to arrest such a venerable old man.
When Polycarp had finished his prayer, after remembering everyone who had ever crossed his path—both small and great, high and low—and the whole Catholic Church throughout the world, the time came for him to leave. They set him on an ass and led him into the city. They forced him out of the carriage so fast that he scraped his shin getting out.
Without even turning around, as though he had felt nothing, Polycarp walked on quickly and was taken to the noisy stadium. No Fear. The Empire went through many phases of demanding that the Christians sacrifice — which meant denying their faith — or be killed. The earliest attacks claimed the lives of many of the apostles.
The account is in the form of a letter from eye-witnesses to other churches in the area. It is the earliest chronicle of a martyrdom outside the New Testament. Polycarp was an old man, at least 86 see part 10 , and probably the last surviving person to have known an apostle, having been a disciple of St.
This was one reason he was greatly revered as a teacher and church leader. As you read it, look for parallels between this story and the Easter story in the gospels. We are writing to you, brothers, with an account of the martyrs, especially the blessed Polycarp, whose death brought to the persecution to a close. Almost all the events that led up to it reveal it to be another martyrdom in the divine pattern that we see in the Gospel.
For he waited for his betrayal, just like the Lord did, so that we might follow him, in looking out for the needs of others as well as ourselves. All the martyrdoms which God allowed to happen remember that the devout will ascribe all things to his sovereignty were blessed and noble.
Who could not admire their honor, their patience, their love for the Lord? They were whipped to shreds till their veins and arteries were exposed, and still endured patiently, while even those that stood by cried for them.
They had such courage that none of them let out a sigh or a groan, proving when they suffered such torments they were absent from their bodies — or rather that the Lord then stood by them and talked with them. By the grace of Christ they despised all the cruelties of this world, redeeming themselves from eternal punishment by the suffering of a single hour.
They were no longer men, but had already become angels. In the same way, those who were condemned to the wild beasts endured dreadful torture. Some were stretched out on beds of spikes. In all that the Devil attempted he failed, thanks be to God. The heroic Germanicus encouraged the weak by his own endurance, and fought bravely with the wild animals: when the Proconsul tried to persuade him to cooperate for the sake of his own youth, he drew the wild beast towards himself and provoked it, in order to escape more quickly from this wicked world.
By the way, when Quintus the Phrygian handed himself over for martyrdom with some others, the Proconsul persuaded them to take the oath and sacrifice. Only one of the many letters written by Polycarp has been preserved, the one he wrote to the Church of Philippi in Macedonia. At 86, Polycarp was led into the crowded Smyrna stadium to be burned alive. The flames did not harm him and he was finally killed by a dagger.
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