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The Encyclical Epistle of the Church at Smyrna Concerning the Martyrdom of the Holy Polycarp

Chapter XV.--Polycarp is not injured by the fire.

When he had pronounced this amen, and so finished his prayer, those who were appointed for the purpose kindled the fire. And as the flame blazed forth in great fury, ¹ we, to whom it was given to witness it, beheld a great miracle, and have been preserved that we might report to others what then took place. For the fire, shaping itself into the form of an arch, like the sail of a ship when filled with the wind, encompassed as by a circle the body of the martyr. And he appeared within not like flesh which is burnt, but as bread that is baked, or as gold and silver glowing in a furnace. Moreover, we perceived such a sweet odour [coming from the pile], as if frankincense or some such precious spices had been smoking ² there.

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Martyrium des Hl. Polykarp (BKV)

15.

Als er das Amen ausgesprochen und sein Gebet vollendet hatte, zündeten die Heizer das Feuer an. Mächtig loderte die Flamme empor; da schauten wir, denen diese Gnade gegeben war, denen es auch vorbehalten war, das Geschehene den anderen zu verkünden, ein Wunder. Denn das Feuer wölbte sich wie ein vom Winde geschwelltes Segel und umwallte so den Leib S. 305 des Märtyrers; dieser aber stand in der Mitte nicht wie bratendes Fleisch, sondern wie Brot, das gebacken wird, oder wie Gold und Silber, das im Ofen geläutert wird. Auch empfanden wir einen Wohlgeruch wie von duftendem Weihrauch oder von einem anderen kostbaren Rauchwerk.