The Martyrdom of Polycarp

This, then, is the account of the blessed Polycarp, who was the twelfth martyr in Smyrna (including those from Philadelphia), yet holds a unique place in the memory of all people, so much so that even the heathen speak of him. He was not just an illustrious teacher but also a preeminent martyr, whose martyrdom everyone desires to imitate, as it was entirely consistent with the Gospel of Christ. For, having through patience overcome the unjust governor and thus gained the crown of immortality, he now, with the apostles and all the righteous in heaven, joyfully glorifies God, the Father, and blesses our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of our souls, the Governor of our bodies, and the Shepherd of the Catholic Church throughout the world.