apostolicfathers0201clem - Carmel Apologetics

472 EPISTLE OF S. POLYCARP.
writing in the latter half of the sixth century, relates a miraculous occurrence
which marked the festival of the saint, and of which he himself
was only not an eyewitness. 'It was the day', he writes, 'of the
passion of the great martyr Polycarp, and the solemn services of his
festival were being celebrated in Riom a town in the state of Auvergne
(in Ricomagensi vico civitatis Arvernae ejus solemnia celebrantur)'.
'
After the account of his passion was read', together with the other
lessons directed by the canon, a deacon entered the Church, bearing in
his hands the receptacle containing 'the mystery of the Lord's body'.
The holy vessel escaped from his hands, flew through the air, and deposited
itself on the altar. The deacon was a man of unclean life, and
this was believed to have happened in consequence. 'A single presbyter
alone, and three women, of whom my mother was one', writes
Gregory, 'were permitted to see these things;
the rest saw them not'.
*I was present myself, I confess,' he adds frankly, 'at the festival on that
occasion;
but I was not deemed worthy to see itV
It is strange that no stedfast and continuous local tradition should
have marked the sites connected with the life and death of a man so
notable as Polycarp. The Turkish occupation seems to have effected a
complete severance between the old and the new at Smyrna. The stadium
indeed, in which the martyr suffered, is still visible, resting on the
slope of Mount Pagus and overhanging the city, the lower side being
supported by massive substructions". But the identification in this
case owes nothing to local tradition. The ruins speak for themselves.
There is likewise a tomb, bearing Polycarp's name, which is said to
be visited annually by the Christians. But the designation seems to
be quite recent in its origin. The earlier travellers could obtain no
satisfactory information about it^
^
Greg. Turon. De Glor. Mart. 86 ; Texier Asie Mineure p. 304 (in the series
see Quotations and References.
UUnivers).
^ Clmndler's Travels in Asia Minor p. ^Chandler Lc. p. 65 (1775), 'His
62, 'Going down from the Western gate sepulchre... is still to be seen as travellers
of the castle towards the sea, at some have reported, by a spreading tree below
distance is the ground -plat of the stadium, the castle; but this is an idle tale and
stripped of its marble seats and decora- deserves to be exploded. I examined the
tions. One side was on the slope of the spot and made particular enquiries, but
mountain; the opposite, or that next to could obtain no satisfactory information...
the town, was raised on a vaulted sub- The early tradition, if true, must have
struction which remains. It appears as been often intercepted in its course downa
long dale, semicircular or rounded at wards. The race of citizens, among whom
the top'. .See also the description in it was most likely to be preserved, has