Now, as Polycarp was entering into the stadium, there came to him a voice from heaven, saying, \u201cBe strong, and show thyself a man, O Polycarp!\u201d No one saw who it was that spoke to him; but those of our brethren who were present heard the voice. And as he was brought forward, the tumult became great when they heard that Polycarp was taken. And when he came near, the proconsul asked him whether he was Polycarp. On his confessing that he was, [the proconsul] sought to persuade him to deny [Christ], saying, \u201cHave respect to thy old age,\u201d and other similar things, according to their custom, [such as], \u201cSwear by the fortune of Cesar; repent, and say, Away with the Atheists.\u201d But Polycarp, gazing with a stern countenance on all the multitude of the wicked heathen then in the stadium, and waving his hand towards them, while with groans he looked up to heaven, said, \u201cAway with the Atheists.\u201d Then, the proconsul urging him, and saying, \u201cSwear, and I will set thee at liberty, reproach Christ;\u201d Polycarp declared, \u201cEighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and my Saviour?\u201d<\/p>\n
—The Martyrdom of Saint Polycarp, Chapter IX<\/a>.<\/p>\n The feast of Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, who was allegedly burned at the stake in 155\/156, is celebrated #OnThisDay<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/WxaXBpfVez<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 CANI (@ClassAssocNI) February 23, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n