POLYCARP, one of the most ancient fathers of the
Christian church, was born towards the end of the reign
of Nero, probably at Smyrna; where he was educated at
the expence of Callista, a noble matron distinguished by
her piety and charity. He was unquestionably a disciple
of St John the Evangelist, and conversed familiarly with
other of the apostles. When of a proper age, Bucolus or-
dained him a deacon and catechist of his church; and upon
his death he succeeded him in the bishopric, to which he
is said to have been consecrated by St John, who also di-
rected his Apocalypse, among others, to him, under the
title of the angel of the church of Smyrna. At length the
controversy about the observation of Easter beginning to
grow high between the eastern and western churches,
he went to Rome to discourse with those who were of the
opposite party. The see was then possessed by Anicetus,
with whom he had many conferences, that were carried
on in the most peaceable and amicable manner; and
though neither of them could bring the other to em-
brace his opinion, they both retained their own senti-
ments without violating that charity which is the great
law of their religion.
Whilst at Rome he particularly opposed the heresies
of Marcian and Valentinus. His conduct on this oc-
casion is related by Irenæus; who informs us, that when
Polycarp passed Marcian in the street without speak-
ing, Marcian said, "Polycarp, own us!" To which he
replied with indignation, "I own thee to be the first-
born of Satan." Irenæus adds, that when any heret-
ical doctrines were spoken in his presence, he would stop
his ears and say, "Good God! to what times hast thou
reserved me, that I should hear such things!" and im-
mediately left the place. He was wont to tell, that
St John, going into a bath at Ephesus, and finding Ce-
rinthus the heretic in it, immediately started back with-
out bathing, crying out, "Let us run away, lest the
bath should fall upon us while Cerinthus the enemy of
truth is in it." Polycarp governed the church of Smyr-
na with apostolic purity, till he suffered martyrdom in
the 7th year of Marcus Aurelius; the manner of which
is thus related.
The persecution waxing hot at Smyrna, and many
having sealed their faith with their blood, the general
cry was, "Away with the impious; let Polycarp be
fought for." Upon which he privately withdrew into a
neighbouring village, where he continued for some time
praying night and day for the peace of the church. He
Polycarp. was thus employed, when one night he fell into a trance, and dreamed that his pillow took fire, and was burnt to ashes; which, when he awoke, he told his friends was a preface that he should be burnt alive for the cause of Christ. Three days afterwards, in order to escape the incessant search for him, he retired into another village: his enemies, however, were at hand, who seized upon two youths (one of whom they forced by stripes to a confession), by whom they were conducted to his lodging. He might have saved himself by getting into another house; but he submitted, saying, "The will of the Lord be done." He therefore came down from his bed-chamber, and saluting his persecutors with a serene and cheerful countenance, he ordered a table to be set with provisions, invited them to partake of them, and only requested for himself one hour for prayer; after which he was set upon an ass, and conducted towards Smyrna. On the road he met Herod an irenarch or justice of the province, and his father, who were the principal instigators of the persecution. Herod took him up into his chariot, and strenuously endeavoured to undermine his constancy; but having failed in the attempt, he thrust him out of the chariot with so much violence and indignation that he bruised his thigh with the fall. When at the place of execution, there came, as is said, a voice from heaven, saying, "Polycarp, be strong, and quit thyself like a man." Before the tribunal he was urged to swear by the genius of Cæsar. "Repent (says the proconsul), and say with us, take away the impious." Whereupon the martyr looking round at the crowd with a severe and angry countenance, beckoned with his hand, and looking up to heaven, said with a sigh, in a very different tone from what they meant, "Take away the impious." At last, confessing himself to be a Christian, the crier thrice proclaimed his confession, and the people shouted, "This is the great dictator of Asia, and the father of the Christians; this is the destroyer of our gods, that teaches men not to do sacrifice, or worship the deities." When the fire was prepared, Polycarp requested not to be nailed, as usual, but only tied to the stake; and after a short prayer, which he pronounced with a clear and audible voice, the executioner blew up the fire, which increasing to a mighty flame, "Behold a wonder seen (says my author) by us who were purposely reserved, that we might declare it to others; the flames disposing themselves into the resemblance of an arch, like the sails of a ship swelled with the wind, gently encircled the body of the martyr, who stood all the while in the midst, not like roasted flesh, but like the gold or silver purified in the furnace, his body sending forth a delightful fragrant, which, like frankincense or some other costly spices, presented itself to our senses. The infidels, exasperated by the miracle, commanded a spearman to run him through with a sword: which he had no sooner done, but such a vast quantity of blood flowed from the wound as extinguished the fire; when a
dove was seen to fly from the wound, which some suppose to have been his soul, clothed in a visible shape at the time of his departure (A)." The Christians endeavoured to carry off his body entire, but were not allowed by the irenarch, who commanded it to be burnt to ashes. The bones, however, were gathered up, and decently interred by the Christians.
Thus died St. Polycarp, the 7th of the kalends of May, A. C. 167. The amphitheatre on which he suffered was mostly remaining not many years ago; and his tomb, which is in a little chapel in the side of a mountain, on the south-east of the city, was solemnly visited by the Greeks on his festival day; and for the maintenance and repairing of it, travellers were wont to throw a few aspers into an earthen pot that stands there for the purpose. He wrote some homilies and epistles, which are now lost, except that to the Philippians, which is a truly pious and Christian piece, containing short and useful precepts and rules of life, which St. Jerome informs us was even in his time read in the public assemblies of the Asiatic churches. It is singularly useful in proving the authenticity of the books of the New Testament; for he has several passages and expressions from Matthew, Luke, the Acts, St. Paul's Epistles to the Philippians, Ephesians, Galatians, Corinthians, Romans, Thessalonians, Colossians, 1st Timothy, 1st Epistle of St. John, and 1st of Peter; and makes particular mention of St. Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians. Indeed his whole Epistle consists of phrases and sentiments taken from the New Testament (B).