Polycarp of Smyrna was a Christian bishop in the Roman province of Asia during the second century CE. He served as the bishop of Smyrna, which is modern-day Izmir, Turkey. According to later church writers, he was a direct disciple of the apostle John, making him a key personal link between the earliest followers of Jesus and the developing structure of the institutional church. He was a contemporary of other important early Christian figures like Ignatius of Antioch.

Polycarp is most famous for his martyrdom. A letter from his church, called the Martyrdom of Polycarp, describes his arrest, trial, and execution by burning at the stadium in Smyrna. The date of his death is uncertain, with traditional dating around 155–160 CE, though some scholars argue for a date as late as 177 CE. The account emphasizes his advanced age and his refusal to renounce his faith, cementing his legacy as one of the most celebrated early Christian martyrs.

Only one of his own writings survives: the Epistle to the Philippians. This letter is valuable to scholars as a window into early Christian ethics and church life. It shows how New Testament writings were being used and circulated, and it references the letters of Paul and Ignatius.

Polycarp’s historical importance is significant. As a disciple of an apostle, later theologians invoked his authority to defend traditional teachings against rival movements. Furthermore, the story of his martyrdom became an influential model for how later Christians would understand and narrate acts of faith under persecution.