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</html><description>The year was A.D. 155, and the persecution against Christians swept across the Roman Empire and came to the city of Smyrna. The proconsul of Symrna, swept up in this persecution, put out an order that the Bishop of Symrna, Polycarp, was to be found, arrested, and brought to the public arena for execution. They Read more...</description><thumbnail_url>https://www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/12/ogimage.png?resize=1200,628</thumbnail_url><thumbnail_width>1200</thumbnail_width><thumbnail_height>628</thumbnail_height></oembed>
