St. Polycarp of Smyrna
The Martyrdom of Polycarp
The Encyclical Epistle of the Church at Smyrna
Contents23 sections
- 1Salutation
- 2Subject of which we write
- 3The wonderful constancy of the martyrs
- 4The constancy of Germanicus. The death of Polycarp is demanded
- 5Quintus the apostate
- 6The departure and vision of Polycarp
- 7Polycarp is betrayed by a servant
- 8Polycarp is found by his pursuers
- 9Polycarp is brought into the city
- 10Polycarp refuses to revile Christ
- 11Polycarp confesses himself a Christian
- 12No threats have any effect on Polycarp
- 13Polycarp is sentenced to be burned
- 14The funeral pile is erected
- 15The prayer of Polycarp
- 16Polycarp is not injured by the fire
- 17Polycarp is pierced by a dagger
- 18The Christians are refused Polycarp’s body
- 19The body of Polycarp is burned
- 20Praise of the martyr Polycarp
- 21This epistle is to be transmitted to the brethren
- 22The date of the martyrdom
- 23Concluding salutation