The Martyrdom of Polycarp

WE HAVE WRITTEN TO YOU: brothers, concerning the martyrs, and especially the blessed Polycarp, who ended the persecution by sealing it with his martyrdom. For almost all the events that occurred before this happened so that the Lord might demonstrate a martyrdom fitting the Gospel from above. For he waited to be handed over, just as the Lord had done, so that we too might become his followers, while we focus not only on our own matters but consider our neighbors as well. For true and well-founded love involves not only wishing for one's own salvation but also for all the brothers.

ALL THE MARTYRDOMS WERE BLESSED AND NOBLE BECAUSE THEY HAPPENED ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD: We, who claim greater piety than others, should attribute all authority to God.

Truly, who can fail to admire their nobility of mind and patience, along with the love they displayed towards their Lord? Even when they were so torn with scourges that their bodies, down to the inward veins and arteries, were laid open, they still endured patiently, while those nearby pitied and lamented them.

They reached such a level of courage that not one of them let out a sigh or groan, proving to us all that those holy martyrs of Christ, at the time of their suffering, were absent from the body, or rather, that the Lord stood by them and communed with them. Focusing on the grace of Christ, they disregarded all worldly torments, redeeming themselves from eternal punishment by suffering for just one hour. For this reason, the fire of their brutal executioners seemed cool to them.

They remained focused on escaping the eternal fire that will never be extinguished and looked forward with the eyes of their hearts to the good things reserved for those who endure; things “which ear has not heard, nor eye seen, neither have entered into the heart of man,” but were revealed by the Lord to them, since they were no longer merely human but had already become angels. Likewise, those condemned to the wild beasts endured dreadful tortures, being stretched out on beds full of spikes and subjected to various other torments, so that, if possible, the tyrant might lead them to deny Christ through their prolonged suffering.

The devil did indeed invent many things against them; but thanks be to God, he could not prevail over all. For the most noble Germanicus strengthened the timidity of others by his own patience and fought heroically with the wild beasts. When the proconsul tried to persuade him and urged him to have pity on his age, he attracted the wild beast towards himself and provoked it, wanting to escape all the more quickly from an unrighteous and impious world. But at this, the whole multitude, marveling at the nobility of mind displayed by the devout and godly race of Christians, cried out, “Away with the Atheists; let Polycarp be sought out!”

NOW A MAN NAMED QUINTUS: a Phrygian, who had recently come from Phrygia, became afraid when he saw the wild beasts. This was the man who insisted that he and some others come forward voluntarily for trial. The proconsul, after many requests, persuaded him to swear and to offer sacrifice. Therefore, brethren, we do not commend those who give themselves up to suffering, as the Gospel does not teach us to do so.

BUT THE MOST ADMIRABLE POLYCARP: when he first heard he was being sought, was not at all disturbed and decided to stay in the city. However, out of respect for the wishes of many, he was persuaded to leave. So he went to a country house not far from the city. There, he stayed with a few friends, doing nothing day and night but praying for all people and for the Churches throughout the world, as was his usual practice. And while he was praying, a vision appeared to him three days before he was captured; and, behold, the pillow under his head seemed to be on fire. At this, he turned to those who were with him and said prophetically, “I must be burnt alive.”

AND WHEN THOSE WHO SOUGHT HIM WERE NEAR: he left for another dwelling, where his pursuers immediately followed him. And when they didn't find him, they seized two youths who were there. One of them, after being tortured, confessed. It was then impossible for him to remain hidden, as those who betrayed him were from his own household. The Irenarch, whose office is the same as that of the Cleronomus, named Herod, hurried to bring him to the stadium. This all happened so he could fulfill his special fate, becoming a partaker of Christ, and so those who betrayed him might face the same punishment as Judas himself.

HIS PURSUERS: along with horsemen and taking the youth with them, went out at supper-time on the day of preparation with their usual weapons, as if going out against a robber. Arriving in the evening at the place where he was, they found him lying in the upper room of a small house, from which he might have escaped to another place; but he refused, saying, “The will of God be done.” When he heard they had come, he went down and spoke with them. Those present marveled at his age and constancy, and some of them said, “Was so much effort made to capture such a venerable man?” Immediately, at that very hour, he ordered that food and drink be set before them, as much as they wanted, while he asked them to allow him an hour to pray without disturbance. When they granted him leave, he stood and prayed, full of the grace of God, so that he could not stop for two full hours, to the astonishment of those who heard him, such that many began to repent that they had come against such a godly and venerable old man.

NOW: as soon as he finished praying, mentioning everyone he had ever come in contact with, both small and great, famous and unknown, as well as the whole Catholic Church throughout the world, the time for his departure arrived. They set him on a donkey and brought him into the city, on the day of the great Sabbath. The Irenarch Herod, accompanied by his father Nicetes, both riding in a chariot, met him and took him up into the chariot. They sat beside him and tried to persuade him, saying, “What harm is there in saying, Lord Cæsar, and in sacrificing, with the other ceremonies observed on such occasions, and thus ensuring your safety?” At first, he gave them no answer, but when they continued to pressure him, he said, “I shall not do as you advise me.” Having no hope of persuading him, they began to speak bitter words to him and forcibly threw him out of the chariot, causing him to dislocate his leg when he got down. Yet, without being disturbed and as if he were not suffering, he eagerly went forward with all haste and was taken to the stadium, where the tumult was so great that there was no possibility of being heard.

AS POLYCARP ENTERED THE STADIUM: a voice from heaven spoke to him, saying, "Be strong, and show yourself a man, O Polycarp!" No one saw who spoke to him, but those of our brethren who were present heard the voice. As he was brought forward, a great uproar arose when they heard that Polycarp had been taken. When he came near, the proconsul asked him if he was Polycarp. On confessing that he was, the proconsul tried to persuade him to deny [Christ], saying, "Respect 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, looking sternly at the entire crowd of wicked pagans in the stadium, and waving his hand toward them while groaning and looking up to heaven, said, "Away with the Atheists." When the proconsul continued to urge him, saying, "Swear, and I will set you free, reproach Christ," Polycarp declared, "For eighty-six years I have served Him, and He never did me any harm: how then can I blaspheme my King and my Saviour?"

AND WHEN THE PROCONSUL AGAIN PRESSED HIM AND SAID: "Swear by the fortune of Cæsar," he answered, "Since you are vainly urging that, as you say, I should swear by the fortune of Cæsar, and pretend not to know who and what I am, hear me declare boldly, I am a Christian. And if you wish to learn what the doctrines of Christianity are, appoint me a day, and you shall hear them." The proconsul replied, "Persuade the people." But Polycarp said, "To you I have thought it right to offer an account [of my faith]; for we are taught to give all due honor (which entails no injury upon ourselves) to the powers and authorities which are ordained of God. But as for these, I do not consider them worthy of receiving any account from me."

THE PROCONSUL THEN SAID TO HIM: "I have wild beasts at hand; to these will I cast you, unless you repent." But he answered, "Call them then, for we are not accustomed to repent of what is good in order to adopt that which is evil; and it is well for me to be changed from what is evil to what is righteous." But again the proconsul said to him, "I will cause you to be consumed by fire, since you despise the wild beasts, if you will not repent." But Polycarp said, "You threaten me with fire which burns for an hour, and after a little is extinguished, but you are ignorant of the fire of the coming judgment and of eternal punishment, reserved for the ungodly. But why do you delay? Bring forth what you will."

WHILE HE SPOKE THESE AND MANY OTHER SIMILAR THINGS: he was filled with confidence and joy, and his appearance was full of grace, so that not only did it not falter as if troubled by what was said to him, but, on the contrary, the proconsul was astonished and sent his herald to proclaim in the middle of the stadium three times, “Polycarp has confessed that he is a Christian.” After this proclamation by the herald, the entire crowd of both the heathens and Jews living in Smyrna cried out with uncontrollable fury, and in a loud voice, “This is the teacher of Asia, the father of the Christians, and the destroyer of our gods, he who has taught many not to sacrifice or worship the gods.” Speaking like this, they cried out and pleaded with Philip the Asiarch to release a lion upon Polycarp. But Philip replied that it was not lawful for him to do so, since the shows of wild beasts were already concluded. Then it seemed right to them to unanimously cry out that Polycarp should be burned alive. For this fulfilled the vision revealed to him regarding his pillow, when, seeing it on fire while he was praying, he turned around and said prophetically to the faithful who were with him, “I must be burned alive.”

THIS WAS CARRIED OUT MORE QUICKLY THAN IT WAS SPOKEN: as the crowds immediately gathered wood and fagots from the shops and baths; the Jews especially, according to custom, eagerly helped with this. When the funeral pile was ready, Polycarp removed all his garments and loosened his belt, intending to take off his sandals too—a task he was not used to, as everyone of the faithful was always eager to be the first to touch his skin. Because of his holy life, he was adorned with every kind of good even before his martyrdom. Then they immediately surrounded him with the materials prepared for the funeral pile. But when they were about to fasten him with nails, he said, “Leave me as I am; for He who gives me strength to endure the fire will also enable me, without you securing me with nails, to remain still in the pile.”

THEY DID NOT NAIL HIM THEN: but simply bound him. And he, placing his hands behind him and being bound like a distinguished ram taken out of a great flock for sacrifice, prepared to be an acceptable burnt-offering unto God, looked up to heaven, and said, “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. Therefore, I also 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.”

WHEN HE HAD SAID THIS AMEN AND FINISHED HIS PRAYER: those who were appointed for the task lit the fire. As the flames blazed with great fury, we, who were given the opportunity to witness it, saw a great miracle and have been preserved so that we could report to others what happened then. The fire, shaping itself into an arch like the sail of a ship filled with wind, surrounded the body of the martyr in a circle. He appeared within it not like burned flesh, but like bread that is baked, or like gold and silver glowing in a furnace. Moreover, we perceived such a sweet odor coming from the pile, as if frankincense or some precious spices had been burning there.

EVENTUALLY: when those wicked men realized that the fire could not consume his body, they ordered an executioner to approach and pierce him with a dagger. Upon doing this, a dove emerged, and a large amount of blood flowed out, extinguishing the fire. All the people were amazed at the difference between the unbelievers and the elect, among whom this most admirable Polycarp was counted, having been an apostolic and prophetic teacher in our own times, and bishop of the Catholic Church in Smyrna. For every word that came from his mouth has either been fulfilled or will 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 purpose, he suggested to Nicetes, the father of Herod and brother of Alce, to go and urge the governor not to give up his body for burial, “lest,” he said, “forsaking Him that was crucified, they begin to worship this one.” He said this based on 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 the fact that it is not possible for us to ever forsake Christ, who suffered for the salvation of those who shall be saved throughout the whole world (the blameless one for sinners), nor to worship any other. For indeed, as the Son of God, we adore Him; 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 caused by the Jews, placed the body in the middle of the fire and consumed it. Afterwards, we took up his bones, considering them more precious than the finest jewels and more purified than gold, and placed them in a suitable location, where, when we gather together as opportunity allows, with joy and rejoicing, the Lord will grant us the ability to celebrate the anniversary of his martyrdom. This is both in memory of those who have already completed their course and for the preparation of those yet to walk in their steps.

THIS: then, is the account of the blessed Polycarp, who was the twelfth martyr in Smyrna (including those from Philadelphia), yet holds a unique place in the memory of all people, so much so that even the heathen speak of him. He was not just an illustrious teacher but also a preeminent martyr, whose martyrdom everyone desires to imitate, as it was entirely consistent with the Gospel of Christ. For, having through patience overcome the unjust governor and thus gained the crown of immortality, he now, with the apostles and all the righteous in heaven, joyfully glorifies God, the Father, and blesses our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of our souls, the Governor of our bodies, and the Shepherd of the Catholic Church throughout the world.

SINCE: then, you requested that we thoroughly inform you of what truly happened, we have for now sent you this summary account through our brother Marcus. When you have read this Epistle yourselves, please send it to the brethren at a greater distance, so that they also may glorify the Lord, who makes such choices 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 honor, and power, and majesty, forever. Amen. Greet all the saints. Those who are with us greet you, and Evarestus, who wrote this Epistle, along with all his household.

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, with Philip the Trallian as high priest, Statius Quadratus as proconsul, but Jesus Christ as King forever, to whom be glory, honor, majesty, and an everlasting throne, from generation to generation. Amen.

WE WISH YOU: brothers and sisters, all happiness as you live according to the doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; to whom be glory to God the Father and the Holy Spirit, for the salvation of His holy elect. Following the example of the blessed Polycarp, who suffered, may we also be found in the kingdom of Jesus Christ!

These things Caius transcribed from the copy of Irenæus (who was a disciple of Polycarp), having himself been close to Irenæus. And I, Socrates, transcribed them at Corinth from the copy of Caius. Grace be with you all.

AND I: Pionius, wrote them again from the previously written copy, having carefully examined them, and the blessed Polycarp revealed them to me through a revelation, as I will demonstrate in what follows. I have gathered these things, as they had nearly faded away over time, so 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 forever and ever. Amen.