Martyrdom of Polycarp

Lake, Loeb 1913

Chapter 18

The Christians take the ashes

When therefore the centurion saw the contentiousness caused by the Jews, he put the body in the midst, as was their custom, and burnt it.

Thus we, at last, took up his bones, more precious than precious stones, and finer than gold, and put them where it was meet.

There the Lord will permit us to come together according to our power in gladness and joy, and celebrate the birthday of his martyrdom, both in memory of those who have already contested,¹ and for the practice and training of those whose fate it shall be.

Notes

This is almost a technical term for martyrdom, cf. Ignatius’s epistle to Polycarp 1, 3.