Polycarp of Smyrna

Polycarp was a teacher of the church at Smyrna whom Martyrs’ Mirror describes as a disciple of the apostle John. The account opens with Christ’s encouragement to the church in Revelation 2 and presents Polycarp as a shepherd who remained faithful in suffering.

Refusing to deny Christ, he faced death by fire and sword. The supplied heading gives 168, and that is the date used for this source-linked profile. The narrative can be read alongside the second-century baptism and martyr accounts that surround it.