Izmir, and the disciple of Saint John the Apostle
I have never been to Izmir, Turkey, only once to Istanbul. But people from Izmir, that I once met, told me it‘s a beautiful place on the coast. Once upon a time, at the time of the Roman Empire, this very seaside spot was called Smyrna. Just a couple of days ago, on the 26th January, the Liturgy of the Church remembered a man, born in the year 69, who was consecrated as bishop of Smyrna by Saint John the Apostle, the beloved disciple of Christ who stood at the foot of the cross witnessing as Christ was crucified: Saint Polycarp.
Saint John the Apostle was his teacher, his mentor, his spiritual father. And at the end of the 1st century, it was Saint John who wrote down a message, received from Christ, for the persecuted community of believers at the city of Smyrna – we find it in the last book of Sacred Scripture, in the book of the Apocalypse:
„And to the angel of the church of Smyrna write: These things saith the First and the Last, who was dead, and is alive: I know thy tribulation and thy poverty, but thou art rich: and thou art blasphemed by them that say they are Jews and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer. Behold, the devil will cast some of you into prison that you may be tried: and you shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful until death: and I will give thee the crown of life.“
Apocalypse of Saint John 2: 8-10
While Saint John died a natural death at a very old age, his spiritual son Polycarp was challenged to testify to Christ with his blood, to earn the crown of life through martyrdom in the year 155.
A bishop‘s exhortations
Tradition has passed on a letter Saint Polycarp wrote to the Church at Philippi and an account of his martyrdom, which the Church of Smyrna sent “to the Church of God sojourning in Philomelium, and to all the congregations of the Holy and Catholic Church in every place“ (The Martyrdom of Polycarp).
In his letter to the Philippians, Saint Polycarp references Saint Paul the Apostle, who had once taught them, by word of mouth and by parchment and ink. We all know Saint Paul’s letter to the Philippians that is contained in Sacred Scripture. Bishop Polycarp gives the Church at Philippi various exhortations in practicing the faith, brings to mind the teachings of Christ and the Apostles, and deals with the duties of the priesthood and the laity.
He exhorts the laity to be “subject to the presbyters and deacons, as unto God and Christ“ (Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians, Chapter 5), and the priests (the “presbyters“) to be diligant in all their duties as leaders of the community:
„And let the presbyters be compassionate and merciful to all, bringing back those that wander, visiting all the sick, and not neglecting the widow, the orphan, or the poor, but always ‘providing for that which is becoming in the sight of God and man‘, abstaining from all wrath, respect of persons, and unjust judgment; keeping far off from all covetousness, not quickly crediting against any one, not severe in judgment, as knowing that we are all under a debt of sin.“
Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians, Chapter 6
The whole community he reminds of the realities of Christ‘s incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection as the beginning, the path, and the end of their faith, quoting his teacher Saint John the Apostle that “whosoever does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, is antichrist“ (1 John 4: 3) and continuing:
„and whosoever does not confess the testimony of the cross, is of the devil; and whosoever perverts the oracles of the Lord to his own lusts, and says that there is neither a resurrection nor a judgment, he is the first-born of Satan.“
Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians, Chapter 7
In the end, he instructs the believers at Philippi to pray for all men, inside and outside the Church.
“Pray for all the saints. Pray also for kings, and potentates, and princes, and for those that persecute and hate you, and for the enemies of the cross, that your fruit may be manifest to all, and that you may be perfect in Him.“
Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians, Chapter 12
The pariahs of ancient Rome
The remarkable document of The Martyrdom of Polycarp, written to encourage all the faithful to endure all trials and tribulations, shows us, that the bishop of Smyrna did not only profess his faith with his tongue, but with his whole body at a time, when the followers of Christ were called “atheists“ by the pagan society of the Roman Empire, in which they lived as pariahs: “atheists“ because they refused to call Caesar “Lord“ and to burn incense to him, to make sacrifices and offerings unto him in worship, as this would have been a violation of the first Commandment:
“I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt not have strange gods before me. Thou shalt not make to thyself a graven thing, nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, nor of those things that are in the waters under the earth. Thou shalt not adore them, nor serve them: I am the Lord thy God, mighty, jealous, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me: And shewing mercy unto thousands to them that love me, and keep my commandments.“
Exodus 20: 1-6
To be then devoured by wild beasts in a public spectacle was the fate of many of those who in steadfastness testified that not Caesar, but Jesus Christ, the Messiah of Israel and all the nations, is Lord. The Martyrdom of Polycarp tells us, that the bishop of Smyrna was killed for exactly this very same reason, as others before and after him, and in a passage recording the date of Polycarp’s martyrdom affirms the universal kingship of Christ, to whom alone all authority in heaven and on earth has been given, just as Polycarp affirmed Christ’s reign with his own blood.
„Now, the blessed Polycarp suffered martyrdom on the second day of the month Xanthicus just begun, the seventh day before the Kalends of May, on the great Sabbath, at the eigth hour. He was taken by Herod, Philip the Trallian being high priest, Statius Quadratus being proconsul, but Jesus Christ being King for ever, to whom be glory, honour, majesty, and an everlasting throne, from generation to generation.“
The Martyrdom of Polycarp, Chapter 21
An ancient traditon: holy flesh and bones…
The veneration of the martyrs and saints, including the celebration of their memorial and the reverence given to their relics, is as ancient as can be. After Polycarp‘s death, the believers of Smyrna hope to obtain his body, “to become possessors of his holy flesh“ (The Martyrdom of Polycarp, Chapter 17). But the centurion makes sure Polycarp‘s corpse gets burned to prevent this. Nevertheless, the believers gather up his bones, deeming them “more precious than the most exquisite jewels, and more purified than gold“ (The Martyrdom of Polycarp, Chapter 18). The letter sent out to all congregations of the Holy Catholic Church even explains why the saints are venerated („both in memory of those who have already finished their course, and for the exercising and preparation of those yet to walk in their steps“, The Martyrdom of Polycarp, Chapter 18) and how it is certainly not the same as “worshipping“ a human person, as worship is given only to God:
„For Him indeed, as being the Son of God, we adore; but the martyrs, as disciples and followers of the Lord, we worthily love on account of their extraordinary affection towards their own King and Master, of whom may we also be made companions and fellow disciples!“
The Martyrdom of Polycarp, Chapter 17
A bishop‘s testimony
The account given of Polycarp‘s martyrdom is quite detailed. We learn that a certain believer by the name Germanicus “fought heroically with the wild beasts“ with a “nobility of mind“ that impressed the pagans (The Martyrdom of Polycarp, Chapter 3). But as it often is due to man‘s fallen nature, being impressed by someone can easily turn into envy. The crowds go after the leader of the pariahs, shouting: “Away with the Atheists; let Polycarp be sought out!“ (The Martyrdom of Polycarp, Chapter 3)
„But the most admirable Polycarp, when he first heard (that he was sought for), was in no measure disturbed, but resolved to stay in the city. However, in deference to the wish of many, he was persuaded to leave it. He departed, therefore, to a country house not far distant from the city. There he stayed with a few (friends), engaged in nothing else night and day than praying for all men, and for the Churches throughout the world, according to his usual custom. And while he was praying, a vision presented itself to him three days before he was taken; and, behold, the pillow under his head seemed to him on fire. Upon this, turning to those that were with him, he said to them prophetically, ‘I must be burnt alive.‘ (…) And having come about evening (to the place where he was), (his pursuers) found him lying down in the upper room of a certain little house, from which he might have escaped into another place; but he refused, saying, ‘The will of God be done.‘ So when he heard that they had come, he went down and spoke with them. And as those that were present marvelled at his age and constancy, some of them said, ‘Was so much effort made to capture such a venerable man?‘ Immediately then, in that very hour, he ordered that something to eat and drink should be set before them, as much indeed as they cared for, while he besought them to allow him an hour to pray, being full of the grace of God, so that he could not cease for two full hours, to the astonishment of those who heard him, insomuch that many began to repent that they had come forth against so godly and venerable an old man. Now, as soon as he had ceased praying, having made mention of all that had at any time come in contact with him, both small and great, illustrious and obscure, as well as the whole Catholic Church throughout the world, the time of his departure having arrived, they set him upon an ass, and conducted him into the city, the day being that of the great Sabbath. (…) And the Irenarch Herod, accompanied by his father Nicetes (both riding in a chariot), met him, and taking him up into the chariot, they seated themselves beside him, and endeavoured to persuade him, saying, ‘What harm is there in saying, Lord Caesar and in sacrificing, with the other ceremonies observed on such occasions, and so make sure of safety?‘ But he first gave them no answer; and they continued to urge him, he said, ‘I shall not do as you advise me.‘ (…) Now, as Polycarp was entering into the stadium, there came to him a voice from heaven, saying, ‘Be strong, and show yourself a man, O Polycarp!‘ No one saw who it was that spoke to him; but those of our brethren who were present heard the voice. (…) ‘Swear by the fortune of Caesar; repent, and say, Away with the Atheists.‘ But Polycarp, gazing with a stern countenance on all the multitude of the wicked heathen then in the stadium, and waving his hand towards them, while with groans he looked up to heaven, said, ‘Away with the Atheists.‘ (…) The procunsul then said to him, ‘I have wild beasts at hand; to these will I cast you, unless you repent.‘ But he answered, ‘Call them then, for we are not accustomed to repent of what is good in order to adopt that which is evil; and it is well for me to be changed from what is evil to what is righteous.‘ But again the proconsul said to him, ‘I will cause you to be consumed by fire, seeing you despise the wild beasts, if you will not repent.‘ But Polycarp said, ‘You threaten me with fire which burns for an hour, an after a little is extinguished, but are ignorant of the fire of the coming judgment and of eternal punishment, reserved for the ungodly. But why do you tarry? Bring forth what you will.‘ While he spoke these and many other like things, he was filled with confidence and joy, and his countenance was full of grace (…). They did not nail him then, but simply bound him. And he, placing his hands behind him, and being bound like a distinguished ram (taken) out of a great flock for sacrifice, and prepared to be an acceptable burnt-offering unto God, looked up to heaven, and said, ‘O Lord God Almighty, the Father of your beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the knowledge of You, the God of angels and powers, and of every creature, and of the whole race of the righteous who live before you, I give you thanks that you have counted me, worthy of this day and this hour, that I should have a part in the number of your martyrs, in the cup of your Christ, to the resurrection of eternal life, both of soul and body, through the incorruption (imparted) by the Holy Ghost. (…)‘ When he had pronounced this amen, and so finished his prayer, those who were appointed for the purpose kindled the fire. And as the flame blazed forth in great fury, we, to whom it was given to witness it, beheld a great miracle, and have been preserved that we might report to others what then took place. For the fire, shaping itself into the form of an arch, like the sail of a ship when filled with the wind, encompassed as by a circle the body of the martyr. And he appeared within not like flesh which is burnt, but as bread that is baked, or as gold and silver glowing in a furnace. Moreover, we perceived such a sweet odour (coming from the pile), as if frankincense or some such precious spices had been smoking there.“
The Martyrdom of Polycarp, Chapter 5-15
And such, the martyr Polycarp, who refuses to burn incense unto Caesar, is burned like incense unto the one true God, and refusing libations unto Caesar, he fully partakes in Christ‘s cup of suffering. Praying for the living and the dead and bearing those who wrong us patiently are two of the seven spiritual works of mercy, and in these Saint Polycarp of Smyrna, unceasingly offering prayers alongside sacrifices even unto death on behalf of all men, seems to have given us a great example.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercy of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing unto God, your reasonable service.“
Romans 12: 1
Saint Polycarp, holy martyr, pray for us!