In the fourth century St. Jerome declared:
“We do not worship, we do not adore, for fear that we should bow down to the creature rather than to the Creator, but we venerate the relics of the martyrs in order the better to adore Him Whose martyrs they are” (Ad Riparium, i, P.L., XXII, 907).
The account of Polycarp’s martyrdom written by the Smyrnaeans in A.D. 156 in which Christians describe the events following his burning at the stake:
“We took up his bones, which are more valuable than precious stones and finer than refined gold, and laid them in a suitable place, where the Lord will permit us to gather ourselves together, as we are able, in gladness and joy and to celebrate the birthday of his martyrdom.”
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