# Martyrdom of Polycarp 8.1

- Author: Anonymous
- Work: [Martyrdom of Polycarp](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/) (*Martyrium Polycarpi*)
- Date: ca. 156–160 (approximate)
- Source: Lake, LCL 25:322; Kirsopp Lake, ed. and trans., The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 2, LCL 25 (London: Heinemann; New York: Macmillan, 1913), 312–345 (Greek text: K. Lake, The Apostolic Fathers (LCL, 1912-1913), digitized by the First Thousand Years of Greek project (Open Greek and Latin), CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Also in: PG 5:1036a (found by text match)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26
- Canonical URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/8/1/

Summary: After praying for all, Polycarp was taken into the city on a donkey on a “great Sabbath.”

## Greek text

Ἐπεὶ δέ ποτε κατέπαυσεν τὴν προσευχήν, μνημονεύσας ἁπάντων καὶ τῶν πώποτε συμβεβληκότων αὐτῷ, μικρῶν τε καὶ μεγάλων, ἐνδόξων τε καὶ ἀδόξων καὶ πάσης τῆς κατὰ τὴν οἰκουμένην καθολικῆς ἐκκλησίας, τῆς ὥρας ἐλθούσης τοῦ ἐξιέναι, ὄνῳ καθίσαντες αὐτὸν ἤγαγον εἰς τὴν πόλιν, ὄντος σαββάτου μεγάλου.

## English translation (Claude)

When at last he had finished his prayer, having remembered all who had ever met him, small and great, well known and unknown, and the whole catholic church throughout the world, and the hour for departure had come, they set him on a donkey and led him into the city. It was a great Sabbath.

## Scripture references

- John 19:31: echo, medium confidence
- Matt 21:7: echo, low confidence

## Translation notes

- “A great Sabbath”: probably a Sabbath that coincided with a festival (compare John 19:31); which festival is meant is disputed.

## Citation (SBL)

Mart. Pol. 8.1 (PG 5:1036a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/mart-pol/8/1/).