The Feast Day of St. Polycarp

February 23rd is the Feast Day of St. Polycarp where his life and martyrdom is remembered.

Polycarp was a friend of the Apostle John and of the early Church Father Ignatius.  In fact, Polycarp was appointed as the Bishop of Smyrna by John himself.  Like Ignatius and Clement of Rome, Polycarp was part of the second generation of Christians who had received the truth from the Apostles directly.

Polycarp was martyred around 155 AD (February 23rd is the traditional date) in the city of Smyrna by...