Polycarp Biography

Saint Polycarp of Smyrna, considered to be a link between the patristic and the apostolic ages, is believed to have been a disciple of John the Apostle himself. Thus, he is inferred to be an important Christian theologian; an Apostolic father, alongside Ignatius; the bishop of Antioch and Clement and the bishop of Rome. Known to be a man of unwavering faith and loyalty, even under testing times, he is celebrated as a leader who took up the responsibility to spread the word of Jesus Christ in a true and untainted manner; earning followers, adulation, and fame in the process. Living in an era when challenges to his teachings came from both internal and external forces, he never wavered. He stood firm, both against adversities and in his endeavor to hand down precious knowledge to his disciples. However, this unflinching faith of his also became the reason for his death. When he refused to curse Christ in front of the Roman court, he was labeled a criminal and was ordered to be executed. He attained martyrdom in the process, and thus became the twelfth Christian martyr of Smyrna.