The Martyrdom of Polycarp who was a disciple of St. John the Apostle.
I believe that Christians need to read more about our early Christian
Martyrs to prepare them for the coming persecutions. The raging of the
pagans that we are experiencing is only the beginning of an evil period
that is about to dawn. Christians and prophets will once more be called
upon to demonstrate their faith unto death. The question is, will we have
of our spiritual forefathers? To avoid death, the early Christians sinmply
had to burn a pinch of insense to Caesar or to denounce the name of Christ.
This is taken from the early Church Fathers of the first and second century.
-----------------------------------
CHAP. V, --THE DEPARTURE AND VISION OF
POLYCARP.
But the most admirable Polycarp, when he first heard [that he was sought for], was in no measure
disturbed, but resolved to continue in the city. However, in deference to the wish of many, he was
persuaded to leave it. He departed, therefore, to a country house not far distant from the city.
There he stayed with a few [friends], engaged in nothing else night and day than praying for all
men, and for the Churches throughout the world, according to his usual custom. And while he was
praying, a vision presented itself to him three days before he was taken; and, behold, the pillow
under his head seemed to him on fire. Upon this, turning to those that were with him, he said to
them prophetically," I must be burnt alive."
CHAP. VI.--POLYCARP IS BETRAYED BY A
SERVANT.
And when those who sought for him were at hand, he departed to another dwelling, whither his
pursuers immediately came after him. And when they found him not, they seized upon two youths
[that were there], one of whom, being subjected to torture, confessed. It was thus impossible that
he should continue hid, since those that betrayed him were of his own household. The Irenarch(3)
then (whose office is the same as that of the Cleronomus(4)), by name Herod, hastened to bring
him into the stadium. [This all happened] that he might fulfil his special lot, being made a partaker
of Christ, and that they who betrayed him might undergo the punishment of Judas himself.
CHAP. VII.--POLYCARP IS FOUND BY HIS
PURSUERS.
His pursuers then, along with horsemen, and taking the youth with them, went forth at supper-time
on the day of the preparation? with their usual weapons, as if going out against a robber.(6) And
being come about evening [to the place where he was], they found him lying down in the upper
room of(7) a certain little house, from which he might have escaped into another place; but he
refused, saying, "The will of God(8) be done."(9) So when he heard that they were come, he went
down and spake with them. And as those that were present marvelled at his age and constancy,
some of them said. "Was so much effort(10) made to capture such a venerable man?(11)
Immediately then, in that very hour, he ordered that something to eat and drink should be set
before them, as much indeed as they cared for, while he besought them to allow him an hour to
pray without disturbance. And on their giving him leave, he stood and prayed, being full of the
grace of God, so that he could not cease(12) for two full hours, to the astonishment of them that
heard him, insomuch that many began to repent that they had come forth against so godly and
venerable an old man.
CHAP. VIII.--POLYCARP IS BROUGHT INTO THE
CITY.
Now, as soon as he had ceased praying, having made mention of all that had at any time come in
contact with him, both small and great, illustrious and obscure, as well as the whole Catholic
Church throughout the world, the time of his departure having arrived, they set him upon an ass,
and conducted him into the city, the day being that of the great Sabbath. And the Irenarch Herod,
accompanied by his father Nicetes (both riding in a chariot(13)), met him, and taking him up into
the chariot, they seated themselves beside him, and endeavoured to persuade him, saying, "What
harm is there in saying, Lord Caesar,(14) and in sacrificing, with the other ceremonies observed
on such occasions, and so make sure of safety?" But he at first gave them no answer; and when
they continued to urge him, he said, "I shall not do as you advise me." So they, having no hope of
persuading him, began to speak bitter(1) words unto him, and cast him with violence out of the
chariot,(2) insomuch that, in getting down from the carriage, he dislocated his leg(3) [by the fall].
But without being disturbed,(4) and as if suffering nothing, he went eagerly forward with all haste,
and was conducted to the stadium, where the tumult was so great, that there was no possibility of
being heard.
CHAP. IX.--POLYCARP REFUSES TO REVILE
CHRIST.
Now, as Polycarp was entering into the stadium, there came to him a voice from heaven, saying,
"Be strong, and show thyself a man, O Polycarp !" No one saw who it was that spoke to him; but
those of our brethren who were present heard the voice. And as he was brought forward, the
tumult became great when they heard that Polycarp was taken. And when he came near, the
proconsul asked him whether he was Polycarp. On his confessing that he was, [the proconsul]
sought to persuade him to deny [Christ], saying, "Have respect to thy old age," and other similar
things, according to their custom, [such as]," Swear by the fortune of Caesar; repent, and say,
Away with the Atheists." But Polycarp, gazing with a stern countenance on all the multitude of the
wicked heathen then in the stadium, and waving his hand towards them, while with groans he
looked up to heaven, said, "Away with the Atheists."(5) Then, the proconsul urging him, and
saying, "Swear, and I will set thee at liberty, reproach Christ;" Polycarp declared, "Eighty and six
years have I served Him, and He never did me any injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and
my Saviour?"
CHAP. X.--POLYCARP CONFESSES HIMSELF A
CHRISTIAN.
And when the proconsul yet again pressed him, and said, "Swear by the fortune of Caesar," he
answered, "Since thou art vainly urgent that, as thou sayest, I should swear by the fortune of
Caesar, and pretendest not to know who and what I am, hear me declare with boldness, I am a
Christian. And if you wish to learn what the doctrines(6) of Christianity are, appoint me a day, and
thou shalt hear them." The proconsul replied, "Persuade the people." But Polycarp said, "To thee I
have thought it right to offer an account [of my faith]; for we are taught to give all due honour
(which entails no injury upon ourselves) to the powers and authorities which are ordained of
God.(7) But as for these, I do not deem them worthy of receiving any account from me."(8)
CHAP. XI.--NO THREATS HAVE ANY EFFECT ON
POLYCARP.
The proconsul then said to him, "I have wild beasts at hand; to these will I cast thee, except thou
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;(9) and it is well for me to be changed from what is evil to what is
righteous."(10) But again the proconsul said to him, "I will cause thee to be consumed by fire,
seeing thou despisest the wild beasts, if thou wilt not repent." But Polycarp said, "Thou threatenest
me with fire which burneth for an hour, and after a little is extinguished, but art ignorant of the fire
of the coming judgment and of eternal punishment, reserved for the ungodly. But why tarriest
thou? Bring forth what thou wilt."
CHAP. XII.--POLYCARP IS SENTENCED TO BE
BURNED.
While he spoke these and many other like things, he was filled with confidence and joy, and his
countenance was full of grace, so that not merely did it not fall as if troubled by the things said to
him, but, on the contrary, the proconsul was astonished, and sent his herald to proclaim in the
midst of the stadium thrice, "Polycarp has confessed that he is a Christian." This proclamation
having been made by the herald, the whole multitude both of the heathen and Jews, who dwelt at
Smyrna, cried out with uncontrollable fury, and in a loud voice, "This is the teacher of Asia,(11)
the father of the Christians, and the overthrower of our gods, he who has been teaching many not
to sacrifice, or to worship the gods." Speaking thus, they cried out, and besought Philip the
Asiarch(12) to let loose a lion upon Polycarp. But Philip answered that it was not lawful for him to
do so, seeing the shows(13) of wild beasts were already finished. Then it seemed good to them to
cry out with one consent, that Polycarp should be burnt alive. For thus it behooved the vision
which was revealed to him in regard to his pillow to be fulfilled, when, seeing it on fire as he was
praying, he turned about and said prophetically to the faithful that were with him," I must be burnt
alive."
CHAP. XIII.--THE FUNERAL PILE IS ERECTED,
This, then, was carried into effect with greater speed than it was spoken, the multitudes
immediately gathering together wood and fagots out of the shops and baths; the Jews especially,
according to custom, eagerly assisting them in it. And when the funeral pile was ready, Polycarp,
laying aside all his garments, and loosing his girdle, sought also to take off his sandals,--a thing he
was not accustomed to do, inasmuch as every one of the faithful was always eager who should
first touch his skin. For, on account of his holy life,(1) he was, even before his martyrdom,
adorned(2) with every kind of good. Immediately then they surrounded him with those substances
which had been prepared for the funeral pile. But when they were about also to fix him with nails,
he said, "Leave me as I am; for He that giveth me strength to endure the fire, will also enable me,
without your securing me by nails, to remain without moving in the pile."
CHAP. XIV.--THE PRAYER OF POLYCARP.
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, and prepared to be an
acceptable burnt-offering unto God, looked up to heaven, and said, "O Lord God Almighty, the
Father of thy beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the knowledge of
Thee, the God of angels and powers, and of every creature, and of the whole race of the righteous
who live before thee, I give Thee thanks that Thou hast counted me, worthy of this day and this
hour, that I should have a part in the number of Thy martyrs, in the cup(3) of thy 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 Thee as a fat(4) and acceptable sacrifice,
according as Thou, the ever-truthful(5) God, hast fore-ordained, hast revealed beforehand to me,
and now hast fulfilled. Wherefore also I praise Thee for all things, I bless Thee, I glorify Thee,
along with the everlasting and heavenly Jesus Christ, Thy beloved Son, with whom, to Thee, and
the Holy Ghost, be glory both now and to all coming ages. Amen."(6)
CHAP. XV.--POLYCARP IS NOT INJURED BY THE
FIRE.
When he had pronounced this amen, and so finished his prayer, those who were appointed for the
purpose kindled the fire. And as the flame blazed forth in great fury,(7) we, to whom it was given
to witness it, beheld a great miracle, and have been preserved that we might report to others what
then took place. For the fire, shaping itself into the form of an arch, like the sail of a ship when
filled with the wind, encompassed as by a circle the body of the martyr. And he appeared within
not like flesh which is burnt, but as bread that is baked, or as gold and silver glowing in a furnace.
Moreover, we perceived such a sweet odour [coming from the pile], as if frankincense or some
such precious spices had been smoking(8) there.
CHAP. XVI.-- POLYCARP IS PIERCED BY A
DAGGER.
At length, when those wicked men perceived that his body could not be consumed by the fire,
they commanded an executioner to go near and pierce him through with a dagger. And on his
doing this, there came forth a dove,(9) and a great quantity of blood, so that the fire was
extinguished; and all the people wondered that there should be such a difference between the
unbelievers and the elect, of whom this most admirable Polycarp was one, having in our own times
been an apostolic and prophetic teacher, and bishop of the Catholic Church which is in Smyrna.
For every word that went out of his mouth either has been or shall yet be accomplished. |
