E00035: The Greek Martyrdom of Polycarp describes the martyrdom of *Polycarp/Polykarpos (bishop and martyr of Smyrna, S00004), including accounts of miracles and references to the veneration of his remains. Written in Smyrna (western Asia Minor) between the late 2nd and 3rd centuries. 3rd/4th century interpolations are possible. Overview entry

Martyrdom of Polycarp (BHG 1556-1560)

The text has the form of a letter addressed by the Christian community of Smyrna to that of Philomelium in Phrygia. The prologue and opening paragraph are as following:

Inscription: Ἡ ἐκκλησία τοῦ θεοῦ ἡ παροικοῦσα Σμύρναν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ τοῦ θεοῦ τῇ παροικούσῃ ἐν Φιλομηλίῳ καὶ πάσαις ταῖς κατὰ πάντα τόπον τῆς ἁγίας καὶ καθολικῆς ἐκκλησίας παροικίαις ἔλεος εἰρήνη καὶ ἀγάπη θεοῦ πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ πληθυνθείη.

(1.1) ἐγράψαμεν ὑμῖν, ἀδελφοί, τὰ κατὰ τοὺς μαρτυρήσαντας καὶ τὸν μακάριον Πολύκαρπον, ὅστις ὥσπερ ἐπισφραγίσας τῇ μαρτυρίᾳ αὐτοῦ κατέπαυσε τὸν διωγμόν. ...

Prologue: 'The church of God sojourning in Smyrna, to the church of God sojourning in Philomelion and to all the communities of the holy and catholic church in every place, mercy, peace and love of God the Father and of our Lord Jesus Christ be multiplied.

(1.1) We write to you, brothers, the events concerning the martyrs and the blessed Polycarp who ended the persecution, having sealed it, as it were, with his martyrdom ...'

The letter starts describing its subject, namely the stories of the martyrs of Smyrna and Polycarp who was the last to be martyred. Polycarp provided an example of true martyrdom conducted according to the gospel, and with a view to benefiting others rather than saving himself only. (1) The letter continues with praise for the courage of the martyrs, and gives a brief account of the martyr *Germanikos and his companions who were thrown to the beasts. Although pressed by the proconsul to apostatise, Germanikos offers himself to be eaten by a lion. Animated by the death of Germanikos, the mob demands the arrest of Polycarp (2, 3). There follows an account of the cowardice of Kointos (Quintus), a Phrygian, who had willingly given himself up to the authorities, but was afraid of the beasts and apostatised - an example against spontaneous surrender to the authorities (4).

Hearing that the authorities are after him, Polycarp reluctantly flees to a farm near the city, where he spends some time praying and has a vision foretelling his martyrdom by fire (5) [see E00008]. As the guards are searching for him, Polycarp flees to another farm where he is eventually arrested, having been betrayed by a slave. He willingly presents himself to the guards and asks to be allowed to pray, while his companions offer them food and drink (6, 7). On the next day, a ‘great Sabbath’, Polycarp is brought to Smyrna where he meets the head of the city guard Herodes and his father Niketes. Both try unsuccessfully to persuade Polycarp to profess faith to the emperor and sacrifice, in order to save his life. He is then brought to the stadium in order to be tried by the proconsul (the provincial governor of Asia) before the mob (8). As he enters, he hears a voice from heaven encouraging him (8.3), [see E00008]. The proconsul repeatedly admonishes Polycarp to take an oath by the emperor, to offer sacrifice and denounce Christ, which the martyr refuses (9-10). The proconsul threatens to throw him to the beasts or burn him alive, but Polycarp refuses and professes his Christian faith thrice. Then the mob of pagans and Jews asks to have a lion loosed on Polycarp, which is denied, because the time of hunting games had passed. Eventually, they decide to have Polycarp burnt alive (11-12); he recalls the vision he had foretelling his martyrdom by fire - see E00008.

A pyre is prepared and Polycarp is stripped of his clothes and bound on it; the Christians, out of reverence, seek to touch his body [see $E00057]. He says a prayer of thanksgiving and the fire is lit (13-14). The flames miraculously surround Polycarp's body without consuming it, and a fragrant smell like frankincense is given off (15). As the body is not burnt, an executioner kills Polycarp with a dagger and from the wound emerges a dove and a large quantity of blood which puts out the flames (16). [For these miraculous events, see E00008.] After describing Polycarp’s death, the text states:

(16.2) ὧν εἷς καὶ οὗτος γεγόνει ὁ θαυμασιώτατος Πολύκαρπος, ἐν τοῖς καθ’ ἡμᾶς χρόνοις διδάσκαλος ἀποστολικὸς καὶ προφητικὸς γενόμενος ἐπίσκοπός τε τῆς ἐν Σμύρνῃ καθολικῆς ἐκκλησίας. πᾶν γὰρ ῥῆμα, ὃ ἀφῆκεν ἐκ τοῦ στόματος αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐτελειώθη καὶ τελειωθήσεται.

'(16.2) And one of the elect indeed was the most wonderful Polycarp, who was in our days an apostolic and prophetic teacher, and a bishop of the catholic church in Smyrna. For every word he uttered from his mouth has indeed been fulfilled and will be fulfilled.'

The Christians wish to take the body, but Niketes asks the proconsul not to give it up, lest the Christians start worshipping it (17). The body is cremated and the Christians collect Polycarp's bones which they bury. They intend to celebrate the anniversary of his death at his tomb on his ‘Birthday’ as a martyr (18). [For these events and aspirations, see $E00087.] Polycarp was the most renowned and revered of the twelve martyrs of Smyrna. The letter closes with the following paragraphs:

(19.1) τοιαῦτα τὰ κατὰ τὸν μακάριον Πολύκαρπον ὃς σὺν τοῖς ἀπὸ Φιλαδελφίας δωδέκατος ἐν Σμύρνῃ μαρτυρήσας, μόνος ὑπὸ πάντων μᾶλλον μνημονεύεται ὥστε καὶ ὑπὸ τῶν ἐθνῶν ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ λαλεῖσθαι. οὐ μόνον διδάσκαλος γενόμενος ἐπίσημος ἀλλὰ καὶ μάρτυς ἔξοχος, οὗ τὸ μαρτύριον πάντες ἐπιθυμοῦσιν μιμεῖσθαι κατὰ τὸ εὐαγγέλιον Χριστοῦ γενόμενον. …

(20.1) ὑμεῖς μὲν οὖν ἠξιώσατε διὰ πλειόνων δηλωθῆναι ὑμῖν τὰ γενόμενα, ἡμεῖς δὲ κατὰ τὸ παρὸν ἐπὶ κεφαλαίῳ μεμηνύκαμεν διὰ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ ἡμῶν Μαρκίωνος. μαθόντες οὖν ταῦτα καὶ τοῖς ἐπέκεινα ἀδελφοῖς τὴν ἐπιστολὴν διαπέμψασθε ἵνα καὶ ἐκεῖνοι δοξάζωσιν τὸν κύριον τὸν ἐκλογὰς ποιοῦντα ἀπὸ τῶν ἰδίων δούλων. … 

'(19.1) Such were the events concerning the blessed Polycarp who, with those from Philadelphia, was the twelfth person martyred in Smyrna, but he alone is especially remembered by everyone and is everywhere mentioned, even by the pagans. He was not only a distinguished teacher, but also an eminent martyr whose martyrdom everyone desires to imitate, because it was performed according to the gospel of Christ …'

(20.1) You indeed, then, requested that the events be reported to you at length, but we, for the present, have recounted them to you in summary through our brother Markion. Therefore, having learned these things, send the letter to the brothers further on, in order that they too may glorify the Lord who chooses the elect among his own servants. …'

After the closure of the letter, there follows a paragraph on the date of Polycarp’s martyrdom (21), a second, secondarily added epilogue of the letter, and a colophon on the transmission history of the text. The latter survives in two versions (22 and 22alt), on which see $E00054.


Text: Hartog 2013. Translation: E. Rizos (using Hartog 2013).