Polycarpe of Smyrna

Holy Polycarpe , born towards 69 or 89 and died in 155 or 167 (according to the sources), was bishop of Smyrna, today Izmir in minor Asia.

Biographical data

He is a disciple of the apostle Jean who, towards the end of his life, had been established not far from there, with Éphèse and Patmos. Named bishop of Smyrna, it fulfills the functions of its ministry during approximately 70 years.

Certain sources indicate it as being the spiritual father of saint Irenee of Lyon, to which it would have transmitted the johannic tradition. It fought many sects heretics, in particular the gnostic represented by Marcion. When the persecution ordered by the emperor and philosopher Marc-Aurèle bursts, holy Polycarpe is very old. It holds head with the proconsul who questions it. It is burned alive in 167 (or 155).

According to the liturgical calendars, he is celebrated on January 26th or on February 23rd.

Account of the martyrdom of Polycarpe saint

At the entry of this saint old man in the amphitheater, all the Christians present heard a mysterious voice which said to him: “Courage, Polycarpe, combat as a noble-hearted man! ” The proconsul asked him: “Es you Polycarpe? -- Yes, I am it. -- IEA pity of your grey hair, curse Christ, and you will be free. -- It there quatre-vingt-six years that I serve It and It made me only good; how could I curse It? He is my Creator, my King and my Saver. -- Do you know that I have lions and bears very ready to devour you? -- Make come them! -- Since you make fun of the wild animals, I will make you burn. -- I fear only the fire which burns the irreligious people and never dies out. Make come your animals, lights fire, I am ready with all. ” Of all shares, in the amphitheater, sanguinary crowd exclaims: “It is worthy of death. Polycarpe with the lions! ” But the combat of the wild animals were completed; one stopped that it would be burned alive.
As the torturers prepared to attach it on roughing-hew it, he says to them: “It is useless, leave me free, the Sky will help me. ” The Saint raises the eyes to the Sky and requests. Suddenly the flame surrounds it and rises over its head, but without him to make any evil, while a delicious perfume embaume the spectators. At this sight, the torturers bore the heart with a sword to him. It was on April 25th, 167.

Go back to its death

“happy Polycarpe returned testimony at the beginning of the month of Xanthic, the second day, the seventh day before the calends of March, one day of great Sabbath, per eighth hour. It had been stopped by Hérode, under the pontificate of Philippe de Tralles, and the proconsulat of Statius Quadratus, but under the reign eternal of our Lord Jesus-Christ; with him is glory, the honor, the size, the throne eternal from generation to generation. ” (Martyrdom of Polycarpe, XXI)

These indications appear to correspond to year 155. Indeed, there does not exist any other date at the 2nd century when can coincide one Saturday (Sabbath), one February 23rd (seventh day before the calends of March) and second the one month lunar day (2 of Xanthic); moreover, good arguments show that Statius Quadratus was most probably proconsul into 155. Polycarpe had been baptized thus into 69, before the ruin of Jerusalem.

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