Martyrdom of Polycarp 1

1CONCERNING THE MARTYRDOM OF THE HOLY POLYCARP. The church of God which sojourns at Smyrna, to the church of God sojourning in Philomelium,[396] and to all the congregations[397] of the holy and catholic church in every place: Mercy, peace, and love from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, be multiplied. We have written to you, brethren, as to what relates to the martyrs, and especially to the blessed Polycarp, who put an end to the persecution, having, as it were, set a seal upon it by his martyrdom. For almost all the events that happened previously [to this one], took place that the Lord might show us from above a martyrdom becoming the gospel. For he waited to be delivered up, even as the Lord had done, that we also might become his followers, while we look not merely at what concerns ourselves, but have regard also to our neighbours. For it is the part of a true and well-founded love, not only to wish one’s self to be saved, but also all the brethren.

Ἡ ἘΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡ παροικοῦσα Σμύρναν, TH ἐκκλησίᾳ τοῦ Θεοῦ τῇ παροικούσῃ ἐν Φιλομηλίῳ καὶ πάσαις ταῖς κατὰ πάντα τόπον τῆς ἁγίας καὶ καθολικῆς ἐκκλησίας παροικίαις, ὄὅλεος καὶ εἰρήνη καὶ ἀγάπη Θεοῦ πατρὸς καὶ [τοῦ] Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ πληθυνθείη. Ι, ἘἘηράψαμεν ὑμῖν, ἀδελφοί, τὰ κατὰ τοὺς μαρτυρή- σαντας καὶ τὸν μακάριον Πολύκαρπον, ὅστις ὥσπερ ἐπι- σφραγίσας διὰ τῆς μαρτυρίας αὐτοῦ κατέπαυσε τὸν διωγμόν. σχεδὸν γὰρ πάντα τὰ προάγοντα ἐγένετο, ἵνα ἡμῖν ὁ Κύριος ἄνωθεν ἐπιδείξῃ τὸ κατὰ τὸ εὐαγγέλεον μαρτύριον. περιέ- μενεν γὰρ ἵνα παραδοθῇ, ὡς καὶ ὁ Κύριος, ἵνα μιμηταὶ καὶ ἡμεῖς αὐτοῦ γενώμεθα, mH μόνον «“κοποΐντες τὸ κδθ᾽ ἑδγτοὺὴς ¢. ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ KATA TOYC πέλδς. ἀγάπης γὰρ ἀληθοῦς καὶ βε- βαίας ἐστὶν μὴ μόνον ἑαυτὸν θέλειν σώζεσθαι ἀλλὰ καὶ πάντας τοὺς ἀδελφούς.