Polycarp, Saint (A.D. 69?-155?), a disciple of John the Evangelist, became Bishop of Smyrna (now Izmir), Turkey. He was an important link between the Apostles and the Christian writers who came after him. An account of his martyrdom tells that when the proconsul directed him to curse Christ, Polycarp replied, “For 86 years I have been serving Him, and He has done no wrong to me. How then dare I blaspheme my King who has saved me?” His feast day is February 23.
