The Martyrdom of Polycarp

Martyrium Polycarpi

The Martydom of Polycarp. The Apostolic Fathers with an English translation by Kirsopp Lake. In Two Volumes. Vol. II. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd. 1913

For him we worship as the Son of God, but the martyrs we love as disciples and imitators of the Lord; and rightly, because of their unsurpassable affection toward their own King and Teacher. God grant that we too may be their companions and fellow-disciples.

When therefore the centurion saw the contentiousness[*](The Christians take the ashes) 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.