View source for Polycarp of Smyrna

[[Image:Polycarp.jpg|right|frame|St. Polycarp]]
The holy, glorious and right-victorious Hieromartyr '''Polycarp of Smyrna''' was a [[bishop]] and [[martyr]] of the early Church<ref>''Encyclopaedia Britannica'', 1958 edition, vol. 18, pp 178-180</ref> and is regarded as one of the three chief ''[[Apostolic Fathers]]''.<ref>Polycarp, with [[Clement of Rome]] and [[Ignatius of Antioch]] are considered the three chief [[Apostolic Fathers]]</ref> The year of his birth is reported as anywhere from A.D. 69 to 81, and his martyrdom is recorded as being from A.D. 155 to 167.  According to [[w:The Martyrdom of Polycarp|The Martyrdom of Polycarp]], he died, bound and burned at the stake then stabbed when the fire failed to touch him, in Smyrna (the seat of his episcopacy and modern day Izmir in Turkey), and he was also reported to be a disciple of the [[Apostle John]].  His [[feast day]] in the Church is [[February 23]].