A not be of Smyrna, but bishop of Ephesus. For Sozomen says: “It seems to me that Victor, bishop of Rome at that time, and Polycarp of Smyrna, most wisely resolved the controversy that had arisen concerning the observation of the paschal feast.” Pearson B and Longuerue had arrived at the same opinion. Neither did Coutantius agree. But Baluzius supports the emendation of the most illustrious prelate; and it is approved by Lequien.
Moreover, Eusebius has woven the fragments of Polycrates' epistle into his *History*; from which we have described them, and have brought them forth with the notes of Valesius and Coutantius.
POLYCRATIS FRAGMENTA
FRAGMENTA EX EPISTOLA AD VICTOREM AC ROMANAM ECCLESIAM
On celebrating Easter on the day prescribed for the Jews, explaining the tradition propagated in Asia down to his own time.
(Apud EUSEBIUM Hist. eccl. lib. v, cap. 24.)I.
We therefore celebrate the true and genuine day, adding nothing, nor taking anything away. For in Asia great luminaries have fallen asleep, A which shall rise again on the day of the coming of the Lord, when He shall come with glory from heaven, and shall raise up all the saints: Philip, one of the twelve apostles, who has fallen asleep in Hierapolis, and his two daughters who have grown old as virgins; and the other daughter of his, who lived in the Holy Spirit B and has fallen asleep in Ephesus.
[Fragmentary notes omitted from translation flow.]
Now we perform the true and genuine day, neither adding anything, nor taking away. For in Asia great luminaries have been extinguished, which shall rise again in that day of the Lord’s coming, when the Lord shall come from heaven full of glory, and shall raise up all the saints: Philip, to wit, one of the twelve apostles who died at Hierapolis, and his two daughters who grew old as virgins; and another daughter of the same, who lived being inspired by the Holy Spirit, C and she rests in Ephesus.
[The remaining text contains historical and critical commentary regarding the identification of Philip the Apostle versus Philip the Deacon, noting errors in earlier interpretations and clarifying the patristic witnesses, including Clement of Alexandria and Papias.] D
A John, who reclined upon the breast of the Lord; who also became a priest, having worn the breastplate, and was a martyr and teacher. He fell asleep at Ephesus. Furthermore, Polycarp, who was bishop and martyr at Smyrna; and Thrasea, bishop and martyr from Eumenia, who fell asleep at Smyrna. And why need I speak of Sagaris, bishop and martyr, who fell asleep at Laodicea? Or the blessed Papirius, and Melito the Eunuch, who lived his entire life in the Holy Spirit; who lies at Sardis awaiting the visitation from the heavens, in which he shall rise from the dead? All these kept the day of the fourteenth of the Pasch according to the Gospel, in no way deviating, but following the rule of faith. And I, too, Polycrates, the least of you all, according to the tradition of my kinsmen, some of whom I have followed; for seven of them were bishops, and I am the eighth; and my kinsmen always kept the day when the people cast away the leaven.
POLYCRATES OF EPHESUS: FRAGMENTS FROM THE LETTER TO POPE VICTOR AND THE ROMAN CHURCH
A ...having worn the pontifical breastplate on his forehead, is the author Epiphanius in the *Heresies of the Nazarenes*, and in his 78th Heresy. The same is handed down concerning the Evangelist Mark by the author of a manuscript on his passion: «Which indeed blessed Mark, according to the rite of the carnal sacrifice, wore the breastplate of the pontifical apex among the people of the Jews, as the writings of illustrious men declare; from which it is clearly understood that he had his origin from the Levitical race, and indeed from the sacred succession of the high priest Aaron.» ...and he rests at Ephesus. Furthermore, John, who reclined upon the breast of the Lord; who was also a priest and wore the breastplate, and finally stood out as a martyr and teacher. This John, I say, ceased his life at Ephesus. Polycarp also, who was bishop and martyr at Smyrna; and likewise Thrasea, bishop of Eumenia and martyr, who rests at Smyrna. What pertains to speaking of the bishop Sagaris, and the same a martyr, who died at Laodicea? What of the blessed Papirius, what of Melito the Eunuch, who, breathed upon by the Holy Spirit, managed all things; who also is situated at Sardis, awaiting the advent of the Lord from the heavens, in which he is to rise again? All these kept the day of the Pasch on the fourteenth moon according to the Gospel; in no way varying, but constantly following the rule of the faith. I also, the least of all you, Polycrates, and by the tradition of my kinsmen, some of whom I have also followed; for there were...
B ...remained in virginity. From which it is gathered that this third one was married to a man. Nor does this conflict with the twenty-first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. For it can be answered that at the time when those things were happening which Luke records, the daughters of Philip were virgins; yet later, one of them was given in marriage by her father. And this seems to be hinted at by Clement of Alexandria in the words which are cited by Eusebius, *Hist. eccl.*, bk. III, ch. 30. Where Christophorsonus confused this third daughter of Philip with those two former ones; whose version, consequently, deservedly troubled Baronius, as is evident from his *Annals* for the year of Christ 58, § 113. Yet the same interpreter correctly distinguished the three daughters of Philip in his *Eusebius, Histor.*, bk. V, ch. 24, and amended his former error. Moreover, it is rightly asked here why Polycrates mentioned only three daughters of Philip, when in the Acts four daughters of Philip are enumerated. I answer that Polycrates mentioned only those who had died and were buried in Asia, as is found from the context of his own letter. Since, therefore, one of those four daughters had died at Caesarea or elsewhere, for that reason Polycrates made no mention of her. Furthermore, one of the daughters of Philip was called Hermione, the other Eutychis. For thus it is written in the *Menaea of the Greeks*: «The 4th of September, commemoration of St. Hermione, one of the four daughters of Philip the Apostle, who baptized the Eunuch of Candace. This woman, and her sister Eutychis, came into Asia after the death of the Apostle John, etc. She was buried at Ephesus.» Therefore, we learn from the *Menaea* that that third daughter of Philip, of whom Polycrates speaks here, was called Hermione. For Polycrates says she was buried at Ephesus, when her two sisters were buried at Hierapolis (Vales., *l. c.*).
C〗 (19) «And Thrasea.» Mention is made of this man by Apollonius in his book against the Cataphrygians, according to Eusebius, *Hist.*, bk. V, ch. 18: «And Thrasea... of whom he also mentions one of the martyrs of that time.» How he was consumed by martyrdom in the city of Smyrna, writes Rufinus, whom Bede, Ado, and others who wrote Martyrologies have followed. Polycrates, however, only said: «who fell asleep at Smyrna.» In the time of Servilius Paulus, proconsul of Asia, at which time Sagaris was martyred, a great dispute arose at Laodicea...
D〗 (20) «Sagaris, bishop and martyr.» Mention is made of this martyr by Melito, Bishop of Sardis, in his book *On the Pasch* in these words: «...at the time of the proconsul Servilius Paulus, in which time Sagaris was martyred, a great dispute occurred at Laodicea...» which Eusebius cited in book V. He was bishop of Laodicea in Asia; in whose times the question was stirred up in the city of Laodicea concerning the paschal feast. In the ancient Roman Martyrology which Rosweydus edited, on the fifth day of October these things are held: «At Eumenia, of Thrasea the bishop, crowned at Smyrna, who was one of the ancients.» On the following day these are noted: «Of Sagaris, bishop of Laodicea, one of the ancient disciples of the Apostle Paul.»
(21) «The blessed Papirius.» In the Codex Maz., Med., and Fuk., I found written *Papirion*, which is a Roman name. And Polycrates indeed does not state of which city this Papirius was bishop. I find, however, in Symeon Metaphrastes, that this Papirius was the successor of the blessed Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna. The words of Symeon in the *Life of Saint Polycarp* are these: «Polycarp also ordained other deacons afterwards; one, by name Camerius, who also became the third bishop after him, following Papirius.» Rufinus also calls him Papyrius. For so the vulgate editions prefer; but the most ancient Corbeiensis codex has *Papirium*.
(22) «Melito the Eunuch, who lived all things in the Holy Spirit.» Jerome, in his book *On Ecclesiastical Writers*, translates these words of Polycrates thus: «And Melito, the eunuch in the Holy Spirit, who always serving the Lord is placed in Sardis.» From which it appears that Jerome divided the words of Polycrates badly in this manner: «Melito the eunuch in the holy Spirit who managed everything...» Rufinus interprets more correctly: «Meliton, on account of the kingdom of God...»