Commontide
Liturgical Color: Red
The 2nd to Last Sunday of Epiphany (World Mission)
Almighty God, through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, you revealed the way of eternal life to every race and nation: Pour out this gift anew, that by the preaching of the Gospel your salvation may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Epiphany
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who took on our mortal flesh to reveal his glory; that he might bring us out of darkness and into his own glorious light.
Most liturgical texts are from the Book of Common Prayer (2019) of the Anglican Church in North America.
The New Coverdale Psalter, © 2019 by the Anglican Church in North America. Used by permission.
Psalms 110, 111, 112, 113
Psalms 129, 130, 131
The 2nd to Last of Epiphany (World Mission)
The Last of Epiphany (Transfiguration)
Bishop and Martyr
Ecumenical Commemoration
Polycarp was bishop of Smyrna in the generation after the apostles, a hearer of men who had seen the Lord, and a correspondent of Ignatius of Antioch. His one surviving letter, written to the Philippians, is woven almost entirely out of apostolic words. He was burned in the stadium of his own city, an old man who answered the proconsul that he had served Christ eighty-six years and could not blaspheme his King.
Polycarp was born around 69–70 and, according to Irenaeus (who heard him preach as a child), was personally instructed by the Apostle John and appointed by John as bishop of Smyrna. This direct connection to the apostolic circle gave Polycarp extraordinary authority in the early church — he was a living witness to apostolic tradition. Irenaeus treasured this connection: 'I remember the events of my life more clearly than those of yesterday. For the things that happened throughout my life — learning well, progressing well, and progressing in the love of God — these things I remember more clearly than those things which happened recently, for they were impressed on my soul when I was a child.'
Polycarp's surviving letter to the Philippians shows a pastor deeply rooted in Scripture and apostolic teaching, warning against false teachers and urging the community in steadfast faith and love. The letter quotes or alludes to nearly every New Testament document, demonstrating the Scriptural literacy of an early 2nd-century Christian leader. His famous confrontation with the heretic Marcion — when Marcion asked, 'Do you recognize me?' Polycarp replied, 'I recognize the firstborn of Satan' — reveals a bishop uncompromising in defending the faith against heresy.
Around 155 AD, Polycarp traveled to Rome to discuss with Bishop Anicetus the proper date for celebrating Easter. The Western church observed Easter on the Sunday following the Jewish Passover; the Asian churches, following the practice Polycarp had learned, observed it on the 14th of Nisan regardless of the day of the week. Though they could not agree, they parted in peace and communion — an early model of doctrinal disagreement within fellowship.
Shortly after returning to Smyrna, persecution erupted. The aged bishop — reported to be eighty-six years old — was arrested after being betrayed by a servant under torture. Brought before the proconsul and commanded to curse Christ, Polycarp declared: 'Eighty-six years have I served him, and he has done me no wrong; how then can I blaspheme my King who saved me?' He was sentenced to death by burning and was martyred, probably on February 23, 155 or 156 AD (the exact year is debated).
Traditionally, the flames are said to have refused to burn Polycarp's body, forming instead an arch around him like a sail filled with wind or the vault of an oven, while his flesh gave off a sweet fragrance like baking bread or burning incense rather than the smell of burning flesh. When a soldier pierced him with a dagger (since the flames would not kill him), a great quantity of blood flowed out and extinguished the pyre. The Smyrnaean Christians gathered his bones 'more precious than refined gold' and carefully placed them where the faithful could commemorate his martyrdom annually.