St. Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna

St. Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna

December 3rd is the commemoration of St. Polycarp according to the liturgical calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church. Mor Polycarp was the Bishop of Smyrna. His life began at the end of the first Christian century, & he became the disciple of St. John the Evangelist. With St. Clement of Rome & St. Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp is regarded as one of the three chief Apostolic Fathers. After severe tortures & many threats, the saint wished to shed his blood for Christ's name. He commanded & taught his people to be steadfast in faith & told them that they would not see his face after that day. They wept & tried to hold him down to prevent him from leaving but they failed to stop him.He went and confessed the Lord Christ before the Governor who ordered to cut off his head after much torture; thus he received the crown of life. Some of the believers took his body, shrouded and buried it with great honor. After severe tortures and many threats, the saint wished to shed his blood for Christ's name. He commanded and taught his people to be steadfast in faith and told them that they would not see his face after that day. They wept and tried to hold him down to prevent him from leaving but they failed to stop him.He went and confessed the Lord Christ before the Governor who ordered to cut off his head after much torture; thus he received the crown of life. Some of the believers took his body, shrouded and buried it with great honor. BL14504