Birth: ~69
Death: ~156
Feast Day: February 23Polycarp was a companion of Papias, a disciple of St. John the Evangelist, and an acquaintance of friend of St. Ignatius of Antioch. He was one of the most important Church leaders of the second generation of Christians. He was converted to Christianity by the apostles, and communicated with many people who had directly known Jesus. He was eventually consecrated Bishop of Smyrna.In about the 150s or 160s, during the reign of Anicetus, the Bishop of Rome, Polycarp traveled to Rome to discuss some differences in observance that had developed between the churches in Asia and in the West. Of particular interest to Polycarp was the time of the Easter celebrations. In the East, the feast of Easter was celebrated on the 14th of Nisan, which was the date of the Jewish Passover, regardless of what day of the week it fell on. In the West, the feast was celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring equinox. Polycarp and Anicetus reached agreement on many things, but maintained their own practices with regard to the timing of Easter, without allowing a schism to form between them. Anicetus even allowed Polycarp to celebrate the Eucharist in his own Church, which at the time was a high honor.

During his time, as the apostles and first-hand witnesses of the life of Jesus died, heresies sprang up and many previously unaddressed questions arose. It was a time of great trial, requiring skilled leadership and preaching in order to maintain the traditions of the Church as well as stand up to the growing persecution of the early Christians.

Once, when confronted by Marcion, the leader of the heretical Marcionites, Marcion demanded that Polycarp recognize them. Polycarp answered him, “I recognize you, yes, I recognize the son of Satan.”

Polycarp died as a martyr. As he became well-known for his holiness, the anger of the pagans grew. As they were persecuting Christians in the arena with wild animals, the crowd began chanting for Polycarp to be arrested and brought into the arena. Polycarp was warned and calmly fled the city to a nearby farm, where he prayed for his friends and for the Church. While in prayer, he had a vision of his pillow consumed with fire, indicating to him that he would be burned to death.

His location was revealed when the authorities tortured to local boys, who divulged his location. Knowing that his time was drawing near, he decided not to flee the house and said, “God’s will be done.” He went down the stairs to meet his captors, talking to them and asking them to give him a short time to pray, which they agreed to. In his prayer, he remembered all those who he had met in his life, and prayed for the Church.

The captors took him to the arena, where the crowd cheered as he was led in. He and those near him heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Be brave and act like a man, Polycarp.” He was offered the chance to swear by Caesar to save himself, but he refused, saying, “If you imagine that I will swear by Caesar, you do not know who I am. Let me tell you plainly, I am a Christian.” Reminded of his fate with the wild beasts, Polycarp remained firm in his faith. Sensing Polycarp’s lack of fear, the proconsul threatened to burn him alive. Polycarp still remained strong, so he was tied up in order to be burned.

His last prayer was, “Lord God Almighty, Father of your beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, through whom we have received knowledge of you, God of angels and powers, of the whole creation and of the whole race of the righteous who live in your sight, I bless you, for having made me worthy of this day and hour, I bless you, because I may have a part, along with the martyrs, in the chalice of your Christ, to resurrection in eternal life, resurrection both of soul and body in the incorruptibility of the Holy Spirit. May I be received today, as a rich and acceptable sacrifice, among those who are in your presence, as you have prepared and foretold and fulfilled, God who is faithful and true. For this and for all benefits I praise you, I bless you, I glorify you, through the eternal and heavenly High Priest, Jesus Christ, your beloved Son, through whom be to you with him and the Holy Spirit glory, now and for all the ages to come. Amen.”

When Polycarp had finished the prayer, the fire was started, but a miracle occurred, and the fire formed an arch around him. Rather than being consumed by the flames, he began to glow. Seeing that he was not burning as they had wanted, the persecutors stabbed him. As his blood flowed out of his body, it quenched the flames and put the fire out.

Fearing that Polycarp’s death would inspire more Christians, the proconsul wouldn’t let the Christians have his body. The Christians, however stole some of his bones for veneration. His feast day is February 23.

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