Polycarp
ST., one of the apostolical fathers of the Church, and a Christian martyr who, according to tradition, was a disciple of the Apostle John, and by him appointed Bishop of Smyrna. friendship of Ignatius, and opposed the many converts, enjoyed the heresies of Marcion and Valentinus; but during the persecution of the Christians under Marcus Aurelius he suffered martyrdom wtih the most heroic fortitude, A. D. 166. His short "Epistle to the Philippians" is the only one of his writings that has been preserved.