The Martyrdom of Polycarp

1We have written to you, brothers and sisters, about those who bore martyrdom and about the blessed Polycarp, who by his martyrdom set a seal upon the persecution and brought it to an end. For nearly everything that went before happened so that the Lord might show us from above the martyrdom according to the gospel.

For he waited to be handed over, just as the Lord did, so that we too might become his imitators, not looking only to our own concerns, but also to the concerns of our neighbors. For it is the mark of true and firm love to desire not only one's own salvation, but also the salvation of all the brothers and sisters.

2Blessed and noble, then, are all the martyrdoms that have taken place according to the will of God. For we must be reverent and assign to God authority over all things.

Who would not marvel at their nobility, their endurance, and their love for the Master? They were torn by scourges until the structure of the flesh could be seen down to the inner veins and arteries, yet they endured so steadfastly that even the bystanders wept and grieved. Some of them reached such heights of courage that not one of them cried out or groaned, showing all of us that in that hour of torture the noble martyrs of Christ were absent from the flesh—or rather, that the Lord stood by them and spoke with them.

Fixing their attention on the grace of Christ, they despised the torments of this world, purchasing eternal life at the cost of a single hour. The fire of their savage torturers felt cold to them, for they kept before their eyes the eternal life that is never quenched, and with the eyes of their hearts they gazed upon the good things reserved for those who endure—things no ear has heard, no eye has seen, and no human heart has conceived. But these were shown to them by the Lord, for they were no longer human beings but already angels.

In the same way, those condemned to the wild beasts endured terrible punishments: they were bound to stakes and tormented with other forms of varied tortures, so that the tyrant might, if possible, turn them to denial through relentless punishment. For the devil schemed many things against them.

3But thanks be to God, for the enemy did not prevail against them all. The most noble Germanicus encouraged the others by his endurance, and he fought the wild beasts with distinction. When the proconsul tried to persuade him and told him to have pity on his youth, Germanicus dragged the beast toward himself, forcing it on, because he wanted to be released quickly from their unjust and lawless life.

At this the whole crowd marveled at the nobility of the God-loving and God-fearing race of the Christians, and they shouted, "Away with the atheists! Find Polycarp!"

4But one man, named Quintus, was a Phrygian who had recently come from Phrygia. When he saw the wild beasts, he lost his courage. This was the very man who had forced himself and certain others to come forward of their own accord. The proconsul pleaded with him at length and persuaded him to swear the oath and offer sacrifice. For this reason, then, brothers and sisters, we do not praise those who hand themselves over, because the gospel does not teach this.

5But the most wonderful Polycarp was not troubled when he first heard the news. He wanted to remain in the city, but the majority persuaded him to withdraw. So he withdrew to a small farm not far from the city and stayed there with a few companions. Night and day he did nothing else but pray for all people and for the churches throughout the world, as was his custom.

While he was praying, three days before his arrest, he fell into a vision and saw his pillow being consumed by fire. He turned and said to those with him, "It is necessary for me to be burned alive."

6The search for him continued, so he moved to another farm. His pursuers arrived there at once, and when they did not find him they arrested two boys, one of whom confessed under torture.

It was impossible for him to escape notice, since even those who betrayed him were members of his own household. And the police captain, who had been assigned the same name and was called Herod, was eager to bring him into the stadium, so that Polycarp might complete his own lot by becoming a partaker of Christ, while those who betrayed him might undergo the punishment of Judas himself.

7So they took the boy, and on the Preparation day, around the dinner hour, the pursuers and cavalry went out with their usual weapons, running as if they were chasing a robber. Late in the hour they closed in on him and found him lying down in an upper room. He could have gone from there to another place, but he refused. He said, “The will of God be done.”

When he heard that they had arrived, he came down and talked with them. Those present marveled at his age and his calm steadfastness, and at the fact that there was such eagerness to arrest so old a man. At once he ordered food and drink to be set before them at that hour, as much as they wanted, and he asked them to give him an hour to pray without fear.

They granted it, and he stood and prayed, so full of the grace of God that for two hours he could not be silent. Those who heard him were astonished, and many regretted that they had come against such a godly old man.

8When he had finished his prayer, he had remembered everyone who had ever crossed his path, small and great, honored and obscure, and the whole catholic church throughout the world, the hour came for him to leave. They seated him on a donkey and brought him into the city. It was a great Sabbath.

The police captain Herod met him, along with Herod's father Nicetes. They moved him into their carriage, sat beside him, and tried to persuade him. "What harm is there," they said, "in saying, 'Lord Caesar,' and sacrificing and doing the rest that follows, and so saving yourself?" At first he gave them no answer. But when they kept pressing him, he said, "I am not going to do what you advise me."

When they failed to persuade him, they spoke harsh words to him and pulled him down with such haste that, as he got out of the carriage, he skinned his shin. But he did not turn back. As if nothing had happened to him, he walked on eagerly and quickly, led into the stadium. The uproar there was so great that no one could even be heard.

9As Polycarp entered the stadium, a voice came from heaven: "Be strong, Polycarp, and act like a man." No one saw who spoke, but those of our people who were present heard the voice. Then, when he was brought forward, there was a great uproar from those who heard that Polycarp had been arrested.

When he was brought before him, the proconsul asked whether he was Polycarp. When he admitted it, the proconsul tried to persuade him to deny it, saying, "Have respect for your age," and other things that follow from this, as they customarily say: "Swear by Caesar's fortune, repent, say, 'Away with the atheists.'" But Polycarp looked with a stern face at the whole crowd of lawless nations in the stadium, shook his hand at them, groaned, looked up to heaven, and said, "Away with the atheists."

The proconsul pressed him and said, "Swear, and I release you; revile Christ." Polycarp replied, "For eighty-six years I have served him, and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my king who saved me?"

10The proconsul kept pressing him. "Swear by Caesar's fortune," he said.

Polycarp answered, "If you imagine in your vanity that I will swear by Caesar's fortune, as you put it, and if you pretend not to know who I am, then listen plainly: I am a Christian. And if you want to learn the teaching of Christianity, give me a day and listen."

The proconsul said, "Persuade the people."

Polycarp replied, "You I would have considered worthy of an answer, for we have been taught to give to rulers and authorities appointed by God the honor that is fitting, as long as it does us no harm. But those people I do not consider worthy of making a defense to them."

11The proconsul said, "I have wild beasts. I will throw you to them unless you repent."

Polycarp replied, "Call for them. For us, a change from what is better to what is worse is impossible. But it is good to change from what is harsh to what is just."

The proconsul said to him again, "If you despise the wild beasts, I will have you consumed by fire, unless you repent."

Polycarp answered, "You threaten a fire that burns for an hour and after a little while is quenched. For you do not know the fire of the coming judgment and eternal punishment that is kept for the ungodly. But why do you delay? Bring whatever you wish."

12As Polycarp said these things and more besides, courage and joy filled him, and grace filled his face. He did not collapse in distress at what was being said to him. On the contrary, the proconsul was astonished. The proconsul sent his own herald into the middle of the stadium to proclaim three times: "Polycarp has confessed that he is a Christian."

When the herald said this, the whole crowd of Gentiles and Jews living in Smyrna shouted with unrestrainable anger and a loud voice. They cried out: "This is the teacher of Asia, the father of the Christians, the destroyer of our gods, the one who teaches many not to sacrifice or worship." Shouting these things, they demanded that Philip the provincial official release a lion against Polycarp. But Philip said it was not lawful for him to do so, since he had already completed the beast hunts.

Then it seemed good to them to shout with one accord that Polycarp should be burned alive. For the vision that had been shown to him about his pillow had to be fulfilled. When he saw it burning as he prayed, he turned and said prophetically to the faithful who were with him: "I must be burned alive."

13All this happened with such speed, faster than words could tell. The crowds gathered wood and kindling at once from the workshops and the baths, and the Jews were especially eager to help, as is their custom.

When the pyre was ready, Polycarp took off all his clothes and loosened his belt. He tried to remove his shoes as well, though he had not done this before, because every one of the faithful was always eager to be the first to touch his skin. For even before his martyrdom he had been adorned with every good thing on account of his excellent way of life.

Immediately the instruments fitted for the pyre were placed around him. When they were about to nail him to it as well, he said, "Leave me as I am. The one who gives me strength to endure the fire will also give me strength to remain on the pyre without flinching, even without the security of your nails."

14They did not nail him, but they did bind him. He put his hands behind his back and was tied up, like a choice ram taken from a large flock for sacrifice, a burnt offering acceptable to God, made ready. Looking up to heaven, he said:

"Lord God Almighty, Father of your beloved and blessed child Jesus Christ, through whom we have received knowledge of you, God of angels and powers and all creation, and of the whole race of the righteous who live before you:

I bless you, because you have deemed me worthy of this day and hour, to receive a share among the number of the martyrs in the cup of your Christ, for resurrection to eternal life of both soul and body in the incorruption of the Holy Spirit. May I be received among them before you today as a rich and acceptable sacrifice, just as you prepared and revealed beforehand and have now fulfilled, O God who does not lie and is true.

For this reason I also praise you for all things, I bless you, I glorify you through the eternal and heavenly high priest Jesus Christ, your beloved Son, through whom to you with him and the Holy Spirit be glory both now and in the ages to come. Amen."

15When Polycarp had sent up his Amen and completed the prayer, the men in charge of the fire kindled it. A great flame blazed out, and we saw a wonder. We were the ones permitted to see it, and we were kept safe so that we could report to the rest what happened.

The fire took the shape of a vaulted chamber, like a ship's sail filled with wind, and it stood around the martyr's body like a wall. He was in the middle, not like burning flesh, but like bread being baked, or like gold and silver being refined in a furnace. We also perceived such a rich fragrance, as if frankincense were breathing or some other precious spice.

16When the lawless men saw that his body could not be consumed by the fire, they ordered a confector to go up to him and thrust in a dagger. When he did this, a dove came out, along with a great quantity of blood, so that it quenched the fire and made the whole crowd marvel that there was such a great difference between the unbelievers and the elect.

One of the elect was this man, the most wonderful martyr Polycarp, who in our own times was an apostolic and prophetic teacher, bishop of the catholic church in Smyrna. For every word that came from his mouth both was fulfilled and will be fulfilled.

17But the envious, malicious, and wicked one, the adversary of the righteous, saw the greatness of Polycarp's martyrdom and his blameless way of life from the beginning. He saw Polycarp crowned with the crown of immortality and carrying off a prize no one could dispute. So the adversary schemed to keep even Polycarp's body from being taken by us, although many were eager to do this and to share in his holy flesh.

He therefore prompted Nicetes, the father of Herod and brother of Alce, to petition the proconsul not to give up Polycarp's body. "Otherwise," Nicetes said, "they will abandon the crucified one and begin to worship this man." The Jews urged this on and supported it, and they also kept watch when we were about to take Polycarp from the fire. They did not understand that we can never abandon Christ, who suffered blamelessly for sinners for the salvation of the whole world of those who are saved, nor can we ever worship anyone else.

For we worship Christ as the Son of God, but the martyrs we love as disciples and imitators of the Lord, worthily, because of their unsurpassable goodwill toward their own King and Teacher. May we also become their companions and fellow disciples.

18When the centurion saw the quarrel the Jews were making, he placed the body in the middle, as was their custom, and burned it.

So afterward we took up his bones, which are more precious than costly stones and more approved than gold, and we put them away where it was fitting.

There, whenever we can gather in gladness and joy, the Lord will grant us to celebrate the birthday of his martyrdom, for the remembrance of those who have already contended and for the training and preparation of those who will.

19Such is the story of the blessed Polycarp. He was the twelfth person to be martyred in Smyrna, together with those from Philadelphia in Asia, yet he alone is remembered more than all the rest. Even the pagans speak of him in every place. He was not only a distinguished teacher but also an outstanding martyr, and everyone desires to imitate his martyrdom because it followed the gospel of Christ.

By his endurance Polycarp overcame the unjust ruler, and in this way he received the crown of immortality. Now he rejoices with the apostles and all the righteous. He glorifies God the Father Almighty and blesses our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of our souls, the helmsman of our bodies, and the shepherd of the catholic church throughout the world.

20You asked for a fuller account of what happened, but for now we have reported it to you in summary through our brother Marcianus. Once you have learned these things, send this letter on to the brothers beyond, so that they too may glorify the Lord, who chooses from among his own servants.

To him who is able to bring us all into his heavenly kingdom through his grace and gift, through his only-begotten child Jesus Christ, be glory, honor, power, and greatness forever. Greet all the saints. Those with us greet you, and so does Evaristus, who wrote this letter, together with his whole household.

21The blessed Polycarp was martyred on the second day of the month Xanthicus, seven days before the first of March, on the great Sabbath, at the eighth hour. He was arrested by Herod, the police captain, while Philip of Tralles was high priest and Statius Quadratus was proconsul, and while Jesus Christ reigns forever. To him be glory, honor, greatness, and an eternal throne from generation to generation. Amen.

22We pray that you may be strong, brothers and sisters, as you walk according to the word of the gospel of Jesus Christ. With him be glory to God the Father and the Holy Spirit, for the salvation of the holy elect, just as the blessed Polycarp martyred. May we be found following in his footsteps in the kingdom of Jesus Christ.

Gaius transcribed these things from the writings of Irenaeus, a disciple of Polycarp, and Gaius shared citizenship with Irenaeus. I, Socrates, wrote them in Corinth from the copies of Gaius. (Some manuscripts read Isocrates.) Grace be with you all.

And I, Pionius, wrote them again from the previously written copy, having searched them out, because the blessed Polycarp revealed them to me in a revelation, as I will make clear in what follows. I gathered them together when they were already nearly worn out by time, so that the Lord Jesus Christ may also gather me with his elect into his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

Second epilogueGaius transcribed these things from the writings of Irenaeus. Gaius had lived with Irenaeus, who was a disciple of the holy Polycarp. Irenaeus himself was in Rome at the time of Bishop Polycarp's martyrdom, and he taught many people there. Many of his writings are in circulation, and they are most beautiful and most correct. In them he mentions Polycarp and says that he learned from him. Irenaeus thoroughly refuted every heresy and handed down the rule of faith and the catholic tradition just as he had received it from the holy Polycarp.

Irenaeus also says this: once Marcion, the heretic from whom the so-called Marcionites come, met the holy Polycarp and said, "Recognize us, Polycarp." Polycarp himself answered Marcion, "I recognize you. I recognize the firstborn of Satan."

And this too is found in the writings of Irenaeus: on the very day and hour when Polycarp was martyred in Smyrna, Irenaeus was in the city of Rome and heard a voice like a trumpet saying, "Polycarp has been martyred."

From these writings of Irenaeus, then, as has been said, Gaius transcribed. From the copies of Gaius, Isocrates transcribed in Corinth. And I, Pionius, in turn wrote from the copies of Isocrates. I searched them out according to a revelation of the holy Polycarp, and I gathered them together when they were already nearly worn out by time, so that the Lord Jesus Christ may also gather me with his elect into his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory with the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

PrefaceThe church of God that sojourns in Smyrna, to the church of God that sojourns in Philomelium, and to all the communities of the holy and catholic church that sojourn in every place: may mercy, peace, and love from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ be multiplied to you.