section

The Martyrdom of Polycarp

← Back to edition

iv.iv87 words

The Encyclical Epistle of the Church at Smyrna Concerning the Martyrdom of the Holy Polycarp

The Church of God which sojourns at Smyrna, to the Church of God sojourning in Philomelium,⁴²⁰ and to all the congregations⁴²¹ of the Holy and Catholic Church in every place: Mercy, peace, and love from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, be multiplied.

Footnotes

420
Some read, “Philadelphia,” but on inferior authority. Philomelium was a city of Phrygia.
421
The word in the original is ποροικίαις, from which the English “parishes” is derived.

Continue

Chapter I.—Subject of which we write.

iv.iv.i

Chapter II.—The wonderful constancy of the martyrs.

iv.iv.ii

Chapter III.—The constancy of Germanicus. The death of Polycarp is demanded.

iv.iv.iii

Chapter IV.—Quintus the apostate.

iv.iv.iv

Chapter V.—The departure and vision of Polycarp.

iv.iv.v

Chapter VI.—Polycarp is betrayed by a servant.

iv.iv.vi

Chapter VII.—Polycarp is found by his pursuers.

iv.iv.vii

Chapter VIII.—Polycarp is brought into the city.

iv.iv.viii

Chapter IX.—Polycarp refuses to revile Christ.

iv.iv.ix

Chapter X.—Polycarp confesses himself a Christian.

iv.iv.x

Chapter XI.—No threats have any effect on Polycarp.

iv.iv.xi

Chapter XII.—Polycarp is sentenced to be burned.

iv.iv.xii

Chapter XIII.—The funeral pile is erected.

iv.iv.xiii

Chapter XIV.—The prayer of Polycarp.

iv.iv.xiv

Chapter XV.—Polycarp is not injured by the fire.

iv.iv.xv

Chapter XVI.—Polycarp is pierced by a dagger.

iv.iv.xvi

Chapter XVII.—The Christians are refused Polycarp’s body.

iv.iv.xvii

Chapter XVIII.—The body of Polycarp is burned.

iv.iv.xviii

Chapter XIX.—Praise of the martyr Polycarp.

iv.iv.xix

Chapter XX.—This epistle is to be transmitted to the brethren.

iv.iv.xx

Chapter XXI.—The date of the martyrdom.

iv.iv.xxi

Chapter XXII.—Salutation.

iv.iv.xxii