Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, Martyr, c.155

https://almanac.oremus.org/2024-02-23

Purple or Lent array / red

Exciting Holiness
Wisdom 5.15-20
Psalm 34.1-9
Revelation 2.8-11
John 15.1-8

Holy Communion
Ezekiel 18.21-28
Psalm 130
Matthew 5.20-26

Morning Prayer
Psalm 22 (or) 51, 54
Genesis 42.29-end
Galatians 5.16-end

Evening Prayer
Psalms 54, 55 (or) 38
Jeremiah 6.22-end
John 6.16-27

Collect

Almighty God,
who gave to your servant Polycarp
boldness to confess the name of our Saviour Jesus Christ
before the rulers of this world
and courage to die for his faith:
grant that we also may be ready
to give an answer for the faith that is in us
and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Post Communion

God our redeemer,
whose Church was strengthened by the blood of your martyr Polycarp:
so bind us, in life and death, to Christ’s sacrifice
that our lives, broken and offered with his,
may carry his death and proclaim his resurrection in the world;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(or)

Eternal God,
who gave us this holy meal
in which we have celebrated the glory of the cross
and the victory of your martyr Polycarp:
by our communion with Christ
in his saving death and resurrection,
give us with all your saints the courage to conquer evil
and so to share the fruit of the tree of life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

BCP Holy Communion

Ezekiel 18.20-25
John 5.2-15