life

The Martyrdom of Polycarp

A letter from the church at Smyrna recording the arrest, trial, and burning of their 86-year-old bishop Polycarp. The earliest extant detailed Christian martyrdom narrative, and the prototype of the genre — explicitly modeled on the Passion of Christ, with Polycarp's prayer at the stake and miraculous endurance of the flames.

c. 155–160

Source collection

New Advent (newadvent.org/fathers)

Open source ↗

Linked passages

Acts 21:141 Corinthians 2:9Matthew 6:10Matthew 10:23Matthew 26:55Romans 13:1-7Titus 3:1

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