Polycarp
| Saint Polycarp | |
|---|---|
 Icon of Saint Polycarp | |
| Martyr and Bishop of Smyrna | |
| Born | Born::69 AD, Unknown |
| Died | Died::155 AD, Smyrna |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholicism Eastern Orthodoxy Anglicanism Lutheranism |
| Feast | January 26 |
| Patronage | against earache, dysentery |
Polycarp of Smyrna (Πολύκαρπος Σμύρνης) (Born::69 AD–Died::155 AD) was a bishop of Smyrna, in Asia Minor, in the 2nd century AD, and was a disciple of John the Apostle.
Biography
According to Tertullian, Polycarp had been ordained bishop by the Apostle John's own hand.[1] Eusebius of Caesarea reports, based on Irenaeus, that Polycarp, on one occasion, met Marcion who said: 'Recognize us' to which he replied: 'I recognize the firstborn of Satan'.[2] Visited Rome in 155 AD to discuss the Easter meeting with the bishop of Rome Aniceto although without reaching an agreement on the topic under discussion.[3] Asked to renounce his faith, the Roman proconsul said "change your way of thinking; shouts: atheists die!" what Polycarp replied: "Yes, atheists die!". Continuing the proconsul urged him to curse Christ.[4] Then Polycarp said:
| “ | "Eighty-six years does I serve Him and no harm I have received from Him. How can I curse my King who saved me?".[4] | ” |
According to the Martyrdom of Polycarp he died martyr, tied to a pole, burned on a pyre, but the fire formed a sort of dome like a sail of a ship around him so they gave him a blow of mercy with a dagger in his chest.[4] Polycarp may have been the last survivor of those who spoke with eyewitnesses of Jesus.[5]
Works
See Also
References
- ↑ Frangiotti, Roque; Storniolo, Ivo (trans.); Balancin, Euclides M.(trans.) (2008) (in Portuguese). Padres Apostólicos [Apostolic Fathers] (4th ed.). São Paulo: Paulus. p. 130. ISBN 978-85-349-0053-9.
- ↑ Eusebius of Caesarea (1995) (in portuguese). História Eclesiástica: Os primeiros quatro séculos da Igreja Cristã [Eusebius' Ecclesiastical History]. Casa Publicadora das Assembléias de Deus. p. 133. ISBN 85-263-0251-5.
- ↑ Renwick, A. M (1986) (in Portuguese). A Igreja Cristã e sua História [The History of the Church]. Queluz, Portugal: Nucleo. p. 26.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Bueno, Daniel Ruiz (1985) (in Spanish). Padres Apostólicos:Edición Bilingüe Completa [Apostolic Fathers: Bilingual Edition Complete]. Madrid: La Editorial Catolica - Biblioteca de Autores Cristianos. p. 672-689. ISBN 84-220-0151-9.
- ↑ Latourette, Kenneth Scott (2007). A History of Cristianity:Beginnings to 1500. 1. Peabody, MA: Prince Press. p. 85. ISBN 978-1-56563-328-5.
