Saint Polycarp

"Born between 69 and 70AD of Christian parents, he learned the teachings of Christ directly from the Apostles and became a disciple of St John the Evangelist. Irenaeus, who was his pupil and then Bishop of Lyon, and the historian Eusebius of Caesarea, write of him thus: "Polycarp was not only educated by the Apostles and lived with many of those who had seen the Lord, but it was the Apostles who sent him to Asia as Bishop of the Church of Smyrna". (Adversus Haereses III, 3,4, Historia Ecclesiastica IV, 14,3,4) The Martyrium Polycarpi, considered by many to be the oldest and most authentic of the Acts of the Martyrs, was written by one who was an eyewitness to his martyrdom. It is the first work in which a martyr is defined as one who dies for the faith. During his long time as Bishop, Polycarp stood out for his zeal in faithfully preserving the doctrine of the Apostles, for spreading the Gospel among the pagans, and for fighting heresies. Irenaeus describes him as a patient and lovable preacher, with great solicitude for widows and slaves."

Read more about this AMAZING Saint at: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints/02/23/st--polycarp--bishop-of--smirne-and-martiyr.html