Saint Polycarp
From the events of history
Saint Polycarp
Disciple of Saint John the Apostle
On March 8 (29 Amshir), the Church celebrates the commemoration of Saint Polycarp the martyr, Bishop of Smyrna (Izmir), one of the Apostolic Fathers, who was discipled by Saint John the Evangelist the Apostle. They asked him to deny Christ, but he refused and said: “I have lived with Him for eighty years, so how can I deny Him?” So they tied him above wood to burn him, but the fire blazed around him and he did not burn.
Finally, they pierced him with a spear, and he died and received the crown of martyrdom. The story of his martyrdom is preserved in the writings of the Apostolic Fathers.
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