ST. POLYCARP OF SMYRNA (FEB. 23RD)

The Martyrdom of St. Polycarp of Smyrna, in the Byzantine Martyrium Codex

By Bp. Joseph

Today, the whole world celebrates the life and ministry of St. Polycarp of Smyrna (AD 69 - 155), one of the early Fathers of the Church, disciple of St. John the Theologian, friend of St. Ignatius of Antioch, and Apostolic Witness. He is known for writings that help to define the earliest teachings of the Church against heresy, his “Epistle to the Philippians”, and for the story of his death, which overflows with such sweetness and faithfulness that it still brings us to tears today. 

EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 

“I exhort you all, therefore, to yield obedience to the word of righteousness, and to exercise all patience, such as you have seen set before your eyes, not only in the case of the blessed Ignatius, and Zosimus, and Rufus... they are now in their due place in the presence of the Lord, with whom also they suffered. For they loved not this present world, but Him who died for us, and for our sakes was raised again by God from the dead… Stand fast, therefore, in these things, and follow the example of the Lord, being firm and unchangeable in the faith, loving the brotherhood, and being attached to one another, joined together in the truth, exhibiting the meekness of the Lord in your intercourse with one another, and despising no one.” - Chapters 9&10

THE MARTYRDOM 

Now, as Polycarp was entering into the stadium, there came to him a voice from heaven, saying, “Be strong, and show yourself a man, O Polycarp!” No one saw who it was that spoke to him; but those of our brethren who were present heard the voice. 

As he was brought forward, the tumult became great when they heard that Polycarp was taken. And when he came near, the proconsul asked him whether he was Polycarp. On his confessing that he was, the proconsul sought to persuade him to deny Christ, saying, “Have respect to your old age,” and other similar things, according to their custom, such as, “Swear by the fortune of Cæsar; repent, and say, Away with the Atheists.” But Polycarp, gazing with a stern countenance on all the multitude of the wicked heathen then in the stadium, and waving his hand towards them, while with groans he looked up to heaven, said, “Away with the Atheists.” 

Then, the proconsul urging him, and saying, “Swear, and I will set you at liberty, reproach Christ;” Polycarp declared, “Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and my Saviour?” 

With this, he was first burnt at the stake, but the flames refused to consume him, so he was stabbed with a knife and killed, and then his body was burnt. The proconsul was careful not to let the Christians take his body for veneration. 

PRAYER OF ST. POLYCARP WHILE MARTYRED 

“O Lord God Almighty, the Father of your beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the knowledge of You, the God of angels and powers, and of every creature, and of the whole race of the righteous who live before you, I give You thanks that You have counted me, worthy of this day and this hour, that I should have a part in the number of Your martyrs, in the cup of your Christ, to the resurrection of eternal life, both of soul and body, through the incorruption imparted by the Holy Ghost. Among whom may I be accepted this day before You as a fat and acceptable sacrifice, according as You, the ever-truthful God, have foreordained, have revealed beforehand to me, and now have fulfilled. Wherefore also I praise You for all things, I bless You, I glorify You, along with the everlasting and heavenly Jesus Christ, Your beloved Son, with whom, to You, and the Holy Ghost, be glory both now and to all coming ages. Amen.”

ST. JEROME ON THE LIFE OF ST. POLYCARP 

Polycarp disciple of the apostle John and by him ordained bishop of Smyrna was chief of all Asia, where he saw and had as teachers some of the apostles and of those who had seen the Lord. He, on account of certain questions concerning the day of the Passover, went to Rome in the time of the emperor Antoninus Pins while Anicetus ruled the church in that city. There he led back to the faith many of the believers who had been deceived through the persuasion of Marcion and Valentinus, and when. Marcion met him by chance and said, "Do you know us?" He replied, "I know the firstborn of the devil." Afterwards during the reign of Marcus Antoninus and Lucius Aurelius Commodus in the fourth persecution after Nero, in the presence of the proconsul holding court at Smyrna and all the people crying out against him in the Amphitheater, he was burned. He wrote a very valuable Epistle to the Philippians which is read to the present day in the meetings in Asia. 

A Diagram Showing the Relationship of St. Polycarp to Jesus Christ, the Apostles, and the Other Apostolic Fathers

COLLECT 

God of all creation, Who was pleased to give the Bishop Saint Polycarp a place in the company of the Thy Martyrs, grant, through his intercession, that, sharing with him in the chalice of Christ, we may rise through the Holy Spirit to eternal life. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever One God, world without end. Amen!

St. Polycarp, Our Father Amongst the Saints