St. Polycarp (69-155) was a bishop of the city of Smyrna (modern day Turkey). Tradition tells us Polycarp refused to burn incense to Ceasar during a ceremony. After a series of bribes and threats by the empire, he simply replied, “Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?” As a result, this eighty-six-year-old man was led into a stadium and martyred Saturday Feb 23, 155 AD. It is this story that strengthened and inspired weary communities to continue to bear witness to a new world.