St. Polycarp was a bishop and martyr who lived in the first and second centuries of the Christian era. His time is often called the “sub-apostolic age,” because his was the first generation of ...

In the year 155 persecution broke out against the Christians in Smyrna in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey). Believers were being fed to the wild beasts in the arena and burned alive. At the time the ...

Poor St. Polycarp! Despite being a disciple of St. John the Evangelist himself and suffering a true martyr’s death — recounted in great gory (yet glorious) detail —absolutely no one names their child ...

This feature is only available to members. Join now for full online access. The year was A.D. 155, and the persecution against Christians swept across the Roman Empire and came to the city of Smyrna.

There is a powerful sense of loss at the heart of Christian martyrdom, because there is something given away that is worth losing. Paradoxically, life in its fullness is hallowed by martyrdom. It is ...