This holy man fought to the death for the law of his God
and did not fear the words of the godless,
for he was built on solid rock. (Today's Liturgy - Entrance Antiphon)
and did not fear the words of the godless,
for he was built on solid rock. (Today's Liturgy - Entrance Antiphon)
Collect (Today's Liturgy)
God of all creation, who were pleased
to give the Bishop Saint Polycarp
a place in the company of the Martyrs,
grant, through his intercession,
that, sharing with him in the chalice of Christ,
we may rise through the Holy Spirit to eternal life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
St Polycarp of Smyrna
69-155 AD
Disciple of apostle St John
Disciple of apostle St John
Friend of Ignatius of Antioch
Apostolic Father
Bishop of Smyrna, Martyr
Exemplary in catechesis
Feast Day - February 23
Polycarp was denounced to the government, arrested, and tried on the charge of being a Christian. When the proconsul urged him to save his life by cursing Christ, he replied: “Eighty-six years I have served Him, and He never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?”
Earlier, in a Letter to the Philippians...
“Stand fast, therefore, in this conduct and follow the example of the Lord, ‘firm and unchangeable in faith, lovers of the brotherhood, loving each other, united in truth,’ helping each other with the mildness of the Lord, despising no man.”
And wrote on another occasion...
“If we pray to the Lord to forgive us, we ourselves must be forgiving; we are all under the eyes of our Lord and God, and every one of us must stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, where each of us will have to give an account.”
Click here: St. Polycarp - YouTube (2 mins)
Click here: Polycarp - YouTube (3:20 mins)
St Polycarp, pray for us!
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