Encomium in sanctum Polycarpum

Of Chrysostom, Encomium on the Holy Hieromartyr Polycarp. Bless. Let it rejoice even today, beloved, or rather through all ages let the hieropreptic dignity in Christ of the shepherds of the church everywhere rejoice. This Paul, praying for the bishops of the Philippians together with presbyters and deacons, said: Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say again, rejoice. Let the crown of every ecclesiastical see also rejoice with the crowns of the martyrs. Or rather, of God himself speaking through Isaiah: Behold, I place in Zion a precious stone, chosen, a cornerstone, and he who believes in it shall not be put to shame. They built the heavenly Zion, whose craftsman and creator is God according to Paul. He openly praises them in the Holy Spirit. On this, again, Paul bears witness saying: You are the temple of God, and his spirit dwells in you. Upon this stone the blessed Polycarp also today built himself, obeying the same who says: You are a building of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ himself being the cornerstone. Having built himself upon these holy ones, he received the crown of incorruption, running not obscurely, but having subdued and enslaved the body. He left for those coming after him to martyrdom through all ages a most beautiful memorial; for the righteous man remains eternal. And the whole crowd of the festival, rejoicing, wishes to learn how he did not fear the vain and wicked sting of the devil, with great precision. He entered the stadium. Having entered, he was enticed by the proconsul with deceptive words.

The one who confessed, the earlier accusation destroyed. Then, as the crowds eagerly gathered wood and brush from the workshops, and especially the Jews... of spirit. But Stephen, discoursing with them, says, Which of the prophets did your fathers not kill? Those who foretold concerning the coming of Christ.... With the instruments of fire, the martyr, they wished to nail the one who had shattered the goads of the devil through his confession in Christ. But the blessed Polycarp says, Let it be thus; for the one who grants endurance will deem it worthy to keep the body unplundered without nails. Nevertheless, they did not nail him, but bound the righteous man. Then, having his hands bound behind him as if in prayer, beseeching the ever-active amen, he thus presented himself as a whole burnt offering to God. Then, when the pyre was kindled, a miraculous wonder occurred to the onlookers. For the fire, rising to a height, formed a vault-like shape, and becoming bronze-like, encircled the body of the martyr; it did not separate this from the waters, but rendered it most radiant. Let the prophet Isaiah now say to the martyr who labored for Christ, Even if you pass through fire, the flame will not consume you. Finally, when the men of the fire saw that the blessed Polycarp could not be consumed by the fire, they ordered that a sword be thrust once into the body of the martyr, within the breast. When that one thrust, his holy body was wounded, so that the spirit might henceforth dwell in the heavens. Then, as blood came forth, they say that when he opened the side, a dove and a blood-like multitude came out.

Having seen the great Polycarp, brothers, a crowd worthy of his spirit, reaching to the heavens, blessed him, crying out, "The blessed one will be near God and dwell in the heavens." By your good deeds, then, may I draw near, blessed Polycarp. I earnestly desire, before the Lord, that through your teaching the pious may increase and advance toward piety, so that, having lived thus, we may be deemed worthy of the inheritance of the heavens, through your prayers and intercessions and those of all who contended alongside you, by the grace of Christ, with whom glory is to the Father together with the Holy Spirit, unto the ages of ages. Amen.