St Polycarp.
Circa 69-155. ~ Polycarp was one of St John the Apostle’s followers. He was appointed bishop of Smyma, (which is now part of Turkey) by John. Polycarp was an important Christian figure in the Western Church. He was a talented speaker and he preacher for over fifty years. He used this talent to fight and eliminate the many heresies which existed and to spread the Christian doctrines.
At the time of the Christian persecutions, he was arrested at the age of eighty for his faith, betrayed by a servant. Refusing to give up his Christian religion, he was sentenced to death by burning, but miraculously the flames did not touch him so a soldier killed him with a spear.