The Martyrdom of Polycarp is an anonymous early Christian text from the middle of the 2nd century CE. It is presented as a letter sent from the Christian community in Smyrna to other churches, detailing the arrest, trial, and execution of their bishop, Polycarp. The date of Polycarp's death is traditionally placed around 155-156 CE, though some scholarly arguments suggest it could have been as late as 177 CE.

The text describes Polycarp as an elderly leader who calmly refuses to renounce his faith before the Roman authorities. According to the account, he was sentenced to be burned at the stake, but the narrative emphasizes miraculous elements, such as the flames not consuming his body, requiring a final stab from an executioner. The story is carefully constructed to present his death as a faithful imitation of the passion of Christ. It concludes with the local Christians venerating his remains as relics.

This document is the earliest complete account of a Christian martyrdom outside the New Testament. According to modern scholars, its primary significance lies in establishing a powerful literary and theological model for later martyr stories. It shaped the Christian ideal of bearing witness through death and provides early evidence for developing practices like the veneration of saints' relics. The text also reflects the complex relationships between early Christian communities, Roman authorities, and local Jewish populations in the Roman Empire.