The Martyrdom of Polycarp · §Preface · Church of Smyrna

Greeting to the churches

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The church of Smyrna opens its letter with a formal greeting to the church in Philomelium and to all communities of the holy and catholic church.

The 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.

Greek

Ἡ ἐκκλησία τοῦ θεοῦ ἡ παροικοῦσα Σμύρναν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ τοῦ θεοῦ τῇ παροικούσῃ ἐν Φιλομηλίῳ καὶ πάσαις ταῖς κατὰ πάντα τόπον τῆς ἁγίας καὶ καθολικῆς ἐκκλησίας παροικίαις: ἐλεος, εἰρήνη καὶ ἀγάπη θεοῦ πατρὸς καὶ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησου Χριστοῦ πληθυνθείη.

About this text

The church of Smyrna tells how its bishop Polycarp and other martyrs died, and holds up his death as a martyrdom that follows the gospel.

The church of Smyrna (fl. c. 156) wrote this letter to the church of God that sojourns at Philomelium and to all communities of the holy and catholic church. It was written to report the martyrdom of Polycarp and other martyrs, and to present Polycarp's death as a model of martyrdom according to the gospel.

The letter reports that recent martyrs endured tortures with remarkable courage. Polycarp, after a vision foretelling his death by fire, was arrested and brought before the proconsul. He refused to swear by Caesar's fortune or revile Christ, confessing himself a Christian and rejecting the proconsul's threats.

The letter quotes Polycarp, the proconsul, the crowd, Herod and Nicetes, a heavenly voice, and a herald. The church collected his bones and resolved to commemorate his martyrdom annually.

New English from the Greek base text; no published English used as wording.

Printed text used

Translated from Kirsopp Lake The Apostolic Fathers London William Heinemann Ltd. New York G.P. Putnam's Sons 1917 (Greek)

This work has passed this project's source check. This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.