The Saint Polycarp Feast, which is celebrated every year on February 23 in Izmir, was celebrated resplendently this year at the Church of Saint Polycarp.
In honor of the Protector of Izmir, St. Polycarp, in preparation for his feast, the 9-day Prayer was held at St. Polycarp Church every evening, starting from February 14, at 18:30. Prayer was moderated by the Archbishop of Izmir, Monsignor Martin Kmetec, and moments of reflection were presented by Maria Grazia Zambon of the Konya Church. While the “Novena Prayer” was performed openly to the congregation, it could also be followed over the live broadcast.
While the Magnificent Sacred Rite of the Feast of St. Polycarp was led by the Izmir-born Monsignor Julio Murat, the Vatican Ambassador to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea; Archbishop of the Izmir Latin Catholic Church, Monsignor Martin Kmetec, accompanied him. Both the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Izmir, Bartholomew Samaras, and the Priest of the Anglican Church of Izmir, James Buxton, as well as a few priests from abroad, priests from different churches in Izmir, and a larger crowd than last year attended this special liturgy.
After reading Words from the Book of Wisdom and Words from the Book of Revelation, Nicholas the Deacon read the Words from the Gospel of St. John in both Turkish and Italian.
Then, the Archbishop of Izmir, in his sermon in Turkish and Italian, said: “In the first verse of the 13th chapter of the Gospel of John, we read the words of Jesus: ‘Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.’ John. 13.1). This is how the Gospel Writer begins the account of Suffering, the description of the washing of the feet, and indicates the most sincere reason for this behavior: Love. Such was the case with Saint Polycarp; This was also the case for all martyrs of faith who persevered to the end. Love knows no way back. It either goes all the way or otherwise it is not love. Martyrs of faith also die for the love of Christ.
Saint Polycarp gave his life as a Christian, priest, and Bishop, died for Christ, because in Christ Jesus, who was crucified, he saw His divinity and in His sacrifice the precious gift of salvation offered to the human race.”
One of the first disciples of the Apostle and Gospel writer St. John, and who lived in Persia born in approximately A.D. 70, Saint Polycarp was brought blind to Smyrna – present-day İzmir – at a young age, became deacon, later appointed from the priesthood to the episcopate between 113 and 117. He fulfilled his duty for nearly fifty years. Polikarp was martyred on February 23, 155, on the Izmir Acropolis, at the Roman Stadium.
A fragment of Saint Polycarp’s skull was presented in homage throughout the entire Mass. Greek, Latin, French and Turkish hymns were sung, and the congregation was given refreshments in the great hall after the ceremony was over. (SAT-7 TURK/İZMİR-Nathalie Ritzmann)
