Tomb Of St. Polycarp

Tomb Of St. Polycarp

Polycarp believed to have been born in 69/70 AD, played an important role in the emergence and spread of Christianity in İzmir. As a young man, he traveled to Ephesus, where the apostle Saint John trained him as a clergyman to spread the Christian faith. Recognized as one of Christianity's most significant figures, Polycarp became the leader of the İzmir Christian community in the 2nd century AD. As one of Saint John's first disciples, he emerged as one of the foremost Christian leaders—second only to Bishop Saint Voukolos of İzmir—and served as the head of the local Christian community.

By sending missionaries from Galatia, Bithynia, and Cappadocia to all parts of the West, Saint Polycarp became a key figure in spreading Christianity from the East to the West. As the head of the İzmir Church, he faced hardships during the Roman period due to his monotheism being viewed as impiety.

Although traveler accounts generally agree that Polycarp's tomb is located in the Smyrna Acropolis, opinions differ regarding the site of his martyrdom. It is known that the tomb and church remnants associated with the saint were last seen by Western travelers arriving in İzmir.