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Polycarp of Smyrna (martyred in his 87th year, ca. 155–167) was a Christian bishop of Smyrna (now Izmir in Turkey) in the 2nd century He died a martyr when he was stabbed and his corpse burned at the stake in Smyrna, and is recognized as a saint in both the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. "He had been a disciple of John, and opinions differ as to whether this John was the son of Zebedee, or John the Presbyter" (Lake 1912). Traditional advocates follow Eusebius in insisting that the apostolic connection was with John the Evangelist, and that the author of the Gospel of John was the Apostle. Polycarp doesn't quote from the Gospel of John in his surviving letter, which may be an indication that whichever John he knew was not the author of that gospel, or that that gospel was not finished during Polycarp's discipleship with John.
Visit to Anicetus, Bishop of Rome
Polycarp visited Rome during the time of his fellow Syrian, Anicetus, Bishop of Rome, in the 150s or 160s, and they might have found their customs for observing the Christian Passover differed, Polycarp following the eastern practice of celebrating Passover on the 14th of Nisan, the day of the Jewish Passover, regardless of what day of the week it falls.
Surviving writings and early accounts
His sole surviving work is his Letter to the Philippians, a mosaic of references to the New Testament. It, and an account of The Martyrdom of Polycarp that takes the form of a circular letter from the church of Smyrna to the churches of Pontus, form part of the collection of writings Roman Catholics term "The Apostolic Fathers" to emphasize their particular closeness to the apostles in Church traditions. The Martyrdom is considered the earliest genuine account of a Christian martyrdom, and one of the very few genuine accounts from the actual age of the persecutions. More on [ Polycarp ]
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Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Polycarp - Long article on what we can know about St. Polycarp, from ancient sources. Martyred in 155.
Meta Description: [ Long article on what we can know about St. Polycarp, from ancient sources. Martyred in 155 ]
Catholic Online: Saint Polycarp - Biography. With prayer.
Meta Description: [ Large searchable database of information on Catholic saints. Saints, Catholic Saints. Thousands of Catholic Saints with biographical data, prayers, images, etc. The saints are cross-indexed to other patronage topics, nationality, and calendar of saints and feasts. Patron Saints Index. Hundreds of... ]
Early Christian Writings: The Martyrdom of Polycarp - Kirsopp Lake's introduction, and quotations from Irenaeus and Jerome on Polycarp.
Encyclopædia Britannica: Polycarp - Detailed article on the bishop of Smyrna, from the 11th edition (1911). Has scanner errors.
Meta Description: [ POLYCARP (c. 6g-c. 155) - Online Information article about POLYCARP (c. 6g-c. 155) ]
Epistle Concerning the Martyrdom of Polycarp - A letter from the Church of Smyrna, by an eyewitness. Roberts-Donaldson translation. From Ante-Nicene Fathers, volume I.
For All the Saints: Polycarp of Smyrna - The earliest record of Christian martyrdom outside the Bible may be that of St. Polycarp, unless that of St. Ignatius of Antioch is older.
New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge: Polycarp - Biographical article by N. Bonwetsch. Includes extensive bibliography.
Patron Saints Index: Polycarp of Smyrna - Profile. Illustrated, with links.
Meta Description: [ Patron Saint Index profile of Saint Polycarp of Smyrna; illustrated ]
Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna and Martyr - Biographical profile. With prayer in traditional and contemporary language.
Polycarp, Saint - Brief biography in The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.
Meta Description: [ Polycarp, Saint. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-05 ]
Polycarpus - Five-page essay on the bishop of Smyrna, by G. Salmon. Requires ability to view PNG files.
St Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, Martyr - From Fr. Alban Butler's Lives of the Saints.
Meta Description: [ Catholic Information Network (CIN), Catholic Information Network (CIN) ]
The Development of the Canon of the New Testament: Polycarp of Smyrna - Story of St. Polycarp and review of his writings with regard to the New Testament canon.
Meta Description: [ The Development of the Canon of the New Testament ]
The Ecole Glossary: Polycarp of Smyrna - Norman Hugh Redington's biographical sketch of St. Polycarp.
The Martyrdom of Polycarp - J.B. Lightfoot translation.
The Martyrdom of St. Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna - Charles H. Hoole translation. At the St. Pachomius Library.
Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Society: St. Polycarp - His life story. Suited to children. Formatting can make this hard to read.
| . Serious consideration is also being given to uncovering the ancient theatre of Smyrna where St. Polycarp was martyred ... | |
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