The Encyclical Epistle of the Church at Smyrna Concerning the Martyrdom of the Holy Polycarp

 Chapter I.—Subject of which we write.

 Chapter II.—The wonderful constancy of the martyrs.

 Chapter III.—The constancy of Germanicus. The death of Polycarp is demanded.

 Chapter IV.—Quintus the apostate.

 Chapter V.—The departure and vision of Polycarp.

 Chapter VI.—Polycarp is betrayed by a servant.

 Chapter VII.—Polycarp is found by his pursuers.

 Chapter VIII.—Polycarp is brought into the city.

 Chapter IX.—Polycarp refuses to revile Christ.

 Chapter X.—Polycarp confesses himself a Christian.

 Chapter XI.—No threats have any effect on Polycarp.

 Chapter XII.—Polycarp is sentenced to be burned.

 Chapter XIII.—The funeral pile is erected.

 Chapter XIV.—The prayer of Polycarp.

 Chapter XV.—Polycarp is not injured by the fire.

 Chapter XVI.—Polycarp is pierced by a dagger.

 Chapter XVII.—The Christians are refused Polycarp’s body.

 Chapter XVIII.—The body of Polycarp is burned.

 Chapter XIX.—Praise of the martyr Polycarp.

 Chapter XX.—This epistle is to be transmitted to the brethren.

 Chapter XXI.—The date of the martyrdom.

 Chapter XXII.—Salutation.

The Encyclical Epistle of the Church at Smyrna Concerning the Martyrdom of the Holy Polycarp

The Church of God which sojourns at Smyrna, to the Church of God sojourning in Philomelium,1    Some read, “Philadelphia,” but on inferior authority. Philomelium was a city of Phrygia. and to all the congregations2    The word in the original is ποροικίαις, from which the English “parishes” is derived. of the Holy and Catholic Church in every place: Mercy, peace, and love from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, be multiplied.

ΜΑΡΤΥΡΙΟΝ ΤΟΥ ΑΓΙΟΥ ΠΟΛΥΚΑΡΠΟΥ ΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΟΥ ΣΜΥΡΝΗΣ

Ἡ ἐκκλησία τοῦ θεοῦ ἡ παροικοῦσα Σμύρναν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ τοῦ θεοῦ τῇ παροικούσῃ ἐν Φιλομηλίῳ καὶ πάσιας ταῖς κατὰ πάντα τόπον τῆς ἁγίας καὶ καθολικῆς ἐκκλησίας παροικίαις· ἔλεος, εἰρήνη καὶ ἀγάπη θεοῦ πατρὸς καὶ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησου Χριστοῦ πληθυνθείη.