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Lectio Studies

The Martyrdom of Polycarp

Chapter 18

3 sections

The Church of Smyrna

Transcribed from a dated scan; artifacts may remain. Edition notes

When therefore the centurion saw the contentiousness caused by the Jews, he put the body in the midst, as was their custom, and burnt it.

Thus we, at last, took up his bones, more precious than precious stones, and finer than gold, and put them where it was meet.

There the Lord will permit us to come together according to our power in gladness and joy, and celebrate the birthday of his martyrdom, both in memory of those who have already contested, and for the practice and training of those whose fate it shall be.

Trans. Kirsopp Lake, The Apostolic Fathers, Volume II (Loeb Classical Library), 1913 (this printing 1917). Public domain.

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