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One of the earliest Christian martyrdom for which an eyewitness account survives is that of Saint Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna (today known as Izmir, in Turkey). Condemned to die at the stake because he would not recognize the divinity of the Roman emperor, he was put to death in the stadium at Smyrna in a.d. 155, when he was 86 years old. The manner of his death is described in a letter of unquestioned authenticity written by members of the church in Smyrna:
When he had offered up the Amen and finished his prayer, the firemen lighted the fire. And a mighty flame flashing forth, we to whom it was given to see, saw a marvel, yea, and we were preserved that we might relate to the rest what happened. The fire, making the appearance of a vault, like the sail of a vessel filled by the wind, made a wall round about the body of the martyr; and it was there in the midst, not like flesh burning but like gold and silver refined in a furnace. For we perceived such a fragrant smell, as if it were the wafted odor of frankincense or some other precious spice.
So at length the lawless men, seeing that his body could not be consumed by fire, ordered the executioner to go up to him and stab him with a dagger. And when he had done this there came forth a quantity of blood so that it extinguished the fire, and all the multitude marvelled that there should be so great a difference between the unbelievers and the elect.
After Saint Polycarp died the fire was lit again, and his body was cremated.
(Herbert Thurston, The Physical Phenomena of Mysticism, pp.171, 222-23)
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