When the friends of Saint Polycarp learned that the Roman authorities were searching for him, they tried to protect him. They took him outside the city of Smyrna and moved him from one farm to another. This was done to confuse the soldiers and delay his arrest. Polycarp did not resist this plan, although he believed that his arrest would eventually happen. According to tradition, he even spoke calmly about his coming death, showing that he had accepted his fate.
Despite these efforts, Polycarp was finally discovered. Roman officials arrested him and brought him back to the city. He was taken to the stadium, where public trials and executions often took place. The original stadium of Smyrna is now completely built over, and no visible remains of it exist today Ancient Bulgaria Tour.
The Trial in the Stadium
In the stadium, Polycarp was brought before the Roman proconsul. The official tried to persuade him to save his life. He urged Polycarp to swear an oath by the Fortune of the emperor and to curse Christ. Such a statement would have been enough to set him free.
Polycarp, however, refused. He did not shout or insult his judges. Instead, he answered with calm dignity. His words are recorded in a letter sent from the Christian church in Smyrna to the church in Philomelium, known today as Akşehir. According to this letter, Polycarp replied:
“For eighty-six years I have been His servant, and He has never done me wrong. How can I blaspheme my King, who has saved me?”
These words later became famous among Christians and were often quoted as an example of faith and loyalty.
Sentence and Preparation for Death
When Polycarp refused to change his position, the proconsul sentenced him to death by burning. This punishment was common for Christians and took place in public. Polycarp is said to have foreseen this kind of death earlier in his life Early Christian Martyrdom and Modern Views.
At his own request, he was not nailed to the stake. Instead, his hands were tied behind his back. He stood willingly, without fear or struggle. Witnesses said that his face showed peace and even joy, as if he believed he was about to receive a great reward.
The Flames and the Miracle Story
According to the account, when the fire was lit, something unusual happened. The flames did not seem to harm him in the expected way. Instead, they surrounded his body like the sails of a ship filled with wind. He appeared, the story says, not like a man burning, but like bread baking in an oven or gold and silver being refined in a furnace.
Those watching claimed that a pleasant smell filled the air, similar to incense or precious spices. Because of this description, Saint Polycarp was sometimes shown in Christian art surrounded by flames that looked like a shining halo.
Death and Burial
When it became clear that the fire had not quickly killed him, Polycarp was stabbed. After his death, his body was burned completely. His followers carefully collected the ashes and buried them with respect.
For early Christians, Polycarp’s death became a powerful symbol of faith, courage, and hope. His story was remembered not only as a tragedy, but also as a victory of belief over fear and death.
