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The Martyrdom of Polycarp

Narrates Polycarp's witness and death, presenting martyrdom as faithful imitation of Christ rather than theatrical heroism.

Church of Smyrnac. AD 1562nd century

Overview

Category
Apostolic Fathers
Genre
Biography
Tradition
Eastern
Region
Eastern Mediterranean
Original language
Greek
Date certainty
Approximate

Historical context

Manuscript context

The Martyrdom of Polycarp circulated in Eastern Mediterranean and is received through Greek manuscript and translation traditions associated with Church of Smyrna.

Themes

EcclesiologyDiscipleshipChurch OrderChristologyMartyrdom

Controversies

  • Christological debates

Source links

  • English translation

    www.newadvent.org · Source quality: Primary · Last checked: 2026-02-28

  • Archive mirror

    web.archive.org · Source quality: Archive · Last checked: 2026-02-28

Read source

Timeline position

The Martyrdom of Polycarp

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