February 23 - Feast of St. Polycarp

FEAST OF ST. POLYCARP - Martyr

Scripture For the Day: Old Testament - Job 18:1-21

New Testament - Holy Gospel according to St. John 7:32-53

Psalms - Morning - Psalm 22

Evening -Psalms 107 & 130

Icon for the Season of Lent: Lent is Prayer, Fasting, and Charity

Life of St. Polycarp: St. Polycarp was the bishop of Smyrna, in what is now Turkey. Not much survives of his writings, but we know he was a disciple of St. John (most likely the St. John who wrote the Gospel and Apocalypse). It was accepted by Eusebius of Caesarea that he was martyred during the reign of Marcus Arelius by being burned at the stake. His followers collected his remains and held special services over them. According to the Martyrdom of St. Polycarp, he told the proconsul who was questioning him in front of the crowd that Christians are to be submissive to human authority unless it compromises them and their faith. He also forewarned the proconsul that he was not afraid of the fire which burned for a time, but the fire which the pagan didn't know about which would consume the wicked for all eternity. He then gave thanks for the Son, gave honor and glory to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and finally gave himself up as a sacrifice to the Divine Will and plan. His only surviving work is the Letter to the Phillipians.