Polykarpos

Bishop of Smyrna, disciple of John the Theologian.

St. Polycarp was Bishop of Smyrna and a disciple of St. John the Theologian, a living link between the apostles and the generations that followed. He shepherded his church for many decades, and in extreme old age was arrested during a persecution in the second century. Urged to deny Christ, he answered that in eighty-six years the Lord had done him no wrong, and he could not blaspheme his King.

He was burned at the stake, and the account of his martyrdom, written by his church, is among the treasures of early Christianity. He is commemorated on February 23.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Polykarpos is commemorated on February 23. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on March 8 (a day earlier in leap years) of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

People with these names keep their name day on this feast:

Polykarpos, Polycarp

Also commemorated on February 23

• Gorgonia

  Holy Woman, Γοργονία

  Righteous Gorgonia, sister of St. Gregory the Theologian.

  Name days: Gorgonia

• Damian of Esphigmenou

  Venerable, Δαμιανός ο Εσφιγμενίτης

  Venerable Damian, hesychast of the Monastery of Esphigmenou on Mount Athos.

• Lazaros of Tripolis

  Hierarch, Λάζαρος ο εκ Τριπόλεως

  New Hieromartyr Lazaros, priest of Tripolis in the Peloponnese.

• John, Moses, Antiochos and Antoninos

  Venerable, Ιωάννης, Μωυσής, Αντίοχος και Αντωνίνος

  Venerable John, Moses, Antiochos and Antoninos, ascetics of the Syrian desert.

• Zebinas, Polychronios, Damian and Moses

  Venerable, Ζεβινάς, Πολυχρόνιος, Δαμιανός και Μωυσής

  Venerable Zebinas, Polychronios, Damian and Moses, ascetics of Syria.

  Name days: Polychronios, Polychronis

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.