Editing Polycarp (section)

==Life==
The chief sources of information concerning the life of Polycarp are ''The Martyrdom of Polycarp'', ''[[Against Heresies (Irenaeus)|Adversus Haereses]]'', ''The Epistle to Florinus'', the [[epistles of Ignatius]], and Polycarp's own letter to the Philippians. In 1999, the Harris Fragments, a collection of 3rd- to 6th-century [[Coptic language|Coptic]] texts that mention Polycarp, were published.<ref name="Hartog">{{cite book |last=Hartog |first=Paul |title=Polycarp and the New Testament |year=2002 |isbn=978-3-16-147419-4 |page=17 |publisher=Mohr Siebeck |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gTMTO_9li4cC}}</ref>

===Link to the Apostles and Jesus===
According to Irenaeus, Polycarp was a companion of [[Papias of Hierapolis|Papias]], another "hearer of John", and a correspondent of Ignatius of Antioch which the document titled "[https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0123.htm The Martyrdom of Ignatius]" furthermore confirms:

And after a great deal of suffering he came to Smyrna, where he disembarked with great joy, and hastened to see the holy Polycarp, formerly his fellow disciple, and now bishop of Smyrna. For they had both, in old times, been disciples of St. John the Apostle.
- [https://www.searchearlychristianwritings.online/read?volume=1&caption=5.25.3.0.0 Martyrdom of Ignatius, Ch. 3]

 Ignatius addressed a letter to him and mentions him in his [[Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians|letters to the Ephesians]] and to the [[Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians|Magnesians]].<ref>Irenaeus, [http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103533.htm V.xxxiii].</ref> Polycarp's epistle to the Philippians gives us some insights to the early usage of the [[New Testament]] from the quotes used within his letter.<ref>That Ancient Faith, [https://www.thatancientfaith.uk/home/perma/1637485200/article/polycarp-show-the-early-use-of-the-new-testament.html How Polycarp (And Others) Show The Early Use Of The New Testament]</ref> Irenaeus regarded the memory of Polycarp as a link to the apostolic past. In his letter to Florinus, a fellow student of Polycarp who had become a Roman presbyter and later lapsed into heresy, Irenaeus relates how and when he [[religious conversion|became a Christian]]:<ref>{{cite CE1913 |last=Bacchus |first=Francis Joseph |wstitle=St. Polycarp |volume=12}}</ref><blockquote>I could tell you the place where the blessed Polycarp sat to preach the [[Logos (Christianity)|Word of God]]. It is yet present to my mind with what gravity he everywhere came in and went out; what was the sanctity of his deportment, the majesty of his countenance; and what were his holy exhortations to the people. I seem to hear him now relate how he conversed with John and many others who had seen Jesus Christ, the words he had heard from their mouths.<ref name=SHMI>{{cite book|author=Fr. Paolo O. Pirlo, SHMI|title=My First Book of Saints|year=1997|publisher=Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate – Quality Catholic Publications|isbn=971-91595-4-5|pages=58–59|chapter=St. Polycarp}}</ref></blockquote>
In particular, he heard the account of Polycarp's discussion with John and with others who had seen [[Jesus]]. Irenaeus reports that Polycarp was converted to Christianity by apostles, was consecrated a presbyter, and communicated with many who had seen Jesus. He writes that he had had the good fortune, when young, to know Polycarp, who was then far advanced in years.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/victoriesmartyrs09liguuoft/page/n71 Liguori, Alphonsus. "St. Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna", ''Victories of the Martyrs'', (Eugene Grimm, ed.), New York, Benziger Brothers, 1888, p. 66]{{PD-notice}}</ref>

===Visit to Anicetus===
According to Irenaeus, during the time his fellow Syrian [[Pope Anicetus|Anicetus]] was [[Bishop of Rome]], Polycarp visited [[Rome]] to discuss differences in the practices of the churches of [[Asia minor|Asia]] and Rome. Irenaeus states that on certain things the two speedily came to an understanding, while as to the observance of the New Covenant Passover, each adhered to his own custom, without breaking off [[full communion]] with the other.<ref name=EB1911>{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Polycarp|volume=22|pages=20–22|first=Herbert Tom |last=Andrews}}</ref> Polycarp followed the Eastern practice of celebrating the feast on the [[Quartodeciman|14th of Nisan]], the day of the Jewish [[Passover]], regardless of the day of the week on which it fell, while Anicetus followed the Western practice of celebrating the feast on the first Sunday following the first [[full moon]] after the [[spring equinox (Northern Hemisphere)|spring equinox]]. Anicetus allowed Polycarp to celebrate the [[Eucharist]] in his own church, which was regarded by the Romans as a great honor.<ref name=EB1911/>

===Martyrdom===
[[File:Izmir St Polycarp Church Icon Miraculously Extinguishing Smyrna Fire.JPG|thumb|220px|Polycarp miraculously extinguishing the fire burning the city of [[Smyrna]]]]
In the ''Martyrdom'', Polycarp is recorded as saying on the day of his death: "Eighty and six years I have served Him, and He has done me no wrong." This could indicate either that he was then eighty-six years old<ref>Staniforth, Maxwell, trans. ''Early Christian Writings'' London: Penguin Books (1987): 115.</ref> or that he had lived eighty-six years after his conversion.<ref name="Wace"/> Polycarp goes on to say: "How then can I blaspheme my King and Savior? You threaten me with a fire that burns for a season, and after a little while is quenched; but you are ignorant of the fire of [[everlasting punishment]] that is prepared for the wicked."<ref name=SHMI /> Polycarp was [[burned at the stake]] and pierced with a spear for refusing to burn incense to the [[Roman emperor]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Polycarp – Martyrdom|url=http://www.polycarp.net/|publisher=Polycarp.net}}</ref> On his farewell, he said: "I bless you, Father, for judging me worthy of this hour, so that in the company of the martyrs I may share the cup of Christ."<ref name=SHMI />

The date of Polycarp's death is in dispute. [[Eusebius of Caesarea|Eusebius]] dates it to the reign of [[Marcus Aurelius]], c. 166–167. However, a post-Eusebian addition to the ''Martyrdom of Polycarp'', dates his death to Saturday, 23 February, in the [[proconsul]]ship of [[Lucius Statius Quadratus]], c. 155 or 156. These earlier dates better fit the tradition of his association with Ignatius and John the Evangelist.

The ''Martyrdom of Polycarp'' states that Polycarp was taken on the Sabbath and killed on "the [[Holy Saturday|Great Sabbath]]". English patristic scholar [[William Cave]] (1637–1713) believed that this was evidence that the Smyrnaeans under Polycarp observed the seventh-day Sabbath, i.e. assembled on [[Saturday]]s.<ref>William Cave, ''Primitive Christianity: or the Religion of the Ancient Christians in the First Ages of the Gospel''. 1840, revised edition by H. Cary. Oxford, London, p. 84–85).</ref> [[J. B. Lightfoot]] records as a common interpretation of the expression "the Great Sabbath" to refer to [[Passover|Pesach]] or another Jewish festival.<ref>J. B. Lightfoot, ''Apostolic Fathers. Part II. S. Ignatius. S. Polycarp.'' Vol. 1, p. 610-611.</ref> This is contradicted by the [[Hebrew calendar|standard Jewish calendar]], under which Nisan 14, the date of the Pesach, can fall no earlier than late March and hence at least a month after the traditional date of Polycarp's death 23 February. Hence, Lightfoot understood the expression in reference to the [[Purim]] festival, celebrated a month before Pesach,<ref>J. B. Lightfoot, ''Apostolic Fathers. Part II. S. Ignatius. S. Polycarp.'' Vol. 1, p. 713.</ref> while other scholars suggest that at the time the Jewish calendar had not yet been standardized, and that this day, both Jews and Christians celebrated [[Passover|Pesach]] and a ([[Quartodeciman]]) [[Christian observance of Passover|Christian Passover]], respectively.<ref>August Strobel, Ursprung und Geschichte der frühchristlichen Osterkalenders, Berlin: Akademie-Verlag, 1977, pp. 247–248</ref>