The Saints: St. Polycarp

169-155/ Feast - Feb. 23

Thought to have been a disciple of John the Evangelist, Polycarp was bishop of Smyrna, in what is now western Turkey. He preached Christian virtue, prayer and almsgiving and was well respected among believers. He traveled a few times to Rome and conferred with the pope about the date of Easter. He was more than 80 years old when he refused to deny Christ at the hands of pagan captors. He was burned on a pyre and then stabbed to death. Details of his execution are recorded in the “Martyrdom of Polycarp.”      © 2002 CN      © 2007 CNS