The Man the Flames Would Not Touch:

February 23rd is the day that Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna is commemorated. He is commemorated on this day because there is an eyewitness account of his death recorded in the Martyrdom of Polycarp. This account places his death on this day in the year 156 A.D. at the approximate age of 86.

Polycarp is the first recorded martyrdom in post-New Testament church history. It is said that he was personally discipled by the Apostle St. John. He was appointed bishop of Smyrna, which is what we now consider Izmir, Turkey, by some of the original disciples. Polycarp was a leading figure of Christianity in Asia Minor and was greatly respected by many. One of his surviving works includes his Epistle to the Philippians, which was read in the churches at the time of St. Jerome (late 300 A.D.) but was not included in the canon of the New Testament. His writing has many quotes from Matthew, Luke and first letters of Peter and John to name a few. His writings confirm the existence of New Testament Gospels and letters. During this time period Christians were executed because of their professing faith in Jesus Christ. Polycarp hung onto the knowledge handed down to him about Jesus Christ through the Apostle John and passed it on to his own disciples. Two well known followers and students of his include Ignatius and Irenaeus. Polycarp stood firm in his beliefs and all he was taught, even though it eventually lead to his death. Polycarp truly lived according to the following words from his epistle to the Philippians: “Stand fast, therefore, in these things, and follow the example of the Lord, being firm and unchangeable in the faith, loving the brotherhood, and being attached to one another, joined together in the truth, exhibiting the meekness of the Lord in your intercourse with one another, and despising no one.” He was martyred because he refused to give divine honors to the emperor and confessed himself as a Christian in front of the proconsul, Statius Quadratus and many curious onlookers. Polycarp was urged to “...curse Christ to save your life…” Polycarp replied: "Eighty-six years I have served him, and he never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?" The proconsul was reluctant to kill a gentle old man, but he had no choice. Many Christians had already been martyred by being cast into a den of lions, but those games had ended so instead, Polycarp was called to be executed through live burning.

A Miracle Occurs:

Those witnessing Polycarp’s execution claim to have been saved in order to tell of these accounts. The eyewitness account of Polycarp’s execution explains that the place was prepared for Polycarps burning. He was tied, per his request and not nailed, to the stake and the wood was set ablaze. The account is written that as the flames rose, they formed an arc around the martyr, not one flint of fire touched him. “Inside it, he looked not like flesh that is burnt, but like bread that is baked, or gold and silver glowing in a furnace. And we smelt a sweet scent, like frankincense or some such precious spices.” Soon, those whom wanted Polycarp executed, realized that the fire was not consuming him and demanded that he be pierced with a dagger. When Polycarp was pierced, witnesses recorded that a dove flew from inside of him and so much blood spilled from his body that the fire was extinguished. Believers and non-believers were amazed and truly recognized that they had been in the presence of a great teacher, the one they had called Bishop of the catholic church of Smyrna. The believers soon realized that truly every word Polycarp had spoken had either came true or would in times to come.

After Polycarp was declared dead, his followers refused the request of his body. Polycarp’s body was taken by the enemy and was burned publicly. His faithful friends collected his bones and treated them with respect and buried them so that Polycarp had a proper resting place. Each year they gather on the day of his martyrdom not to memorialize his death but to celebrate it as his birthday.