The Martyrdom of Polycarp

So they did not nail him, but bound him, and he[*](His last prayers) put his hands behind him and was bound, as a noble ram out of a great flock, for an oblation, a whole burnt offering made ready and acceptable to God; and he looked up to heaven and said: O Lord God Almighty, Father of thy beloved and blessed Child,[*](This use of παῖς as applied to Jesus is rare, and usually found in prayers; cf. Ep. ad Diogn. viii. 9. 11, ix. 1, Didache 9, 2, I Clement 59, 2 (the Prayer), and Acts 3, 13. 26. 4, 27. 30. Here it is clearly Child: in Acts it may mean Servant with reference to Is. 53, etc.) Jesus Christ, through Whom we have received full knowledge of thee, the God of Angels and powers, and of all creation, and of the whole family of the righteous, who live before thee!

I bless thee, that Thou hast granted me this day and hour, that I may share, among the number of the martyrs, in the cup of thy Christ, for the Resurrection to everlasting life, both of soul and body in the immortality of the Holy Spirit. And may I, to-day, be received among them before Thee, as a rich and acceptable sacrifice.

For this reason I also praise Thee for all things, I bless Thee, I glorify Thee through the everlasting and heavenly high Priest, Jesus Christ, thy beloved Child, through whom be glory to Thee with him and the Holy Spirit, both now and for the ages that are to come. Amen.