Flame Resitant
Saint Polycarp appointed bishop of Smyrna by Saint John was sentenced to
death in A.D. 155, at 86 years of age. This eyewitness account of his
execution is one of the earliest Christian martyrdoms. St. Polycarp was
sentenced to death for refusing to recognize the divinity of the Roman
emperor. The members of the church of Smyrna recorded the events of the
execution in a letter of unquestionable authenticity:
When he had offered up the Amen and finished his prayer, the firemen lighted the fire. And a mighty flame flashing forth, we to whom it was given to see, saw a marvel, yea and we were preserved that we might relate to the rest what happened. The fire, making the appearance of a vault, like the sail of a vessel filled by the wind, made a wall round about the body of the martyr; and it was there in the midst, not like flesh burning but like gold and silver refined in a furnace. For we perceived such a fragrant smell, as if it were the wafted odor of frankincense or some other precious spice. So at length the lawless men, seeing that his executioner to go up to him and stab him with a dagger. And when he had done this there came forth a quantity of blood so that it extinguished the fire, and all the multitude marveled that there should be so great a difference between the unbelievers and the elect.