Blinded By the Light - The Occult of Roman Catholicism

Polycarp was indeed trying to keep the Church on track in its observance of the
Passover while ecumenists that claimed to be following Christ were trying to
replace it with the pagan celebration of Easter.

We also find many details in other sources concerning this situation between
Polycarp and Anicetus.

ìPolycarp, disciple of the apostle John and by him ordained

bishop of Smyrna was chief of all Asia, where he saw and

had as teachers some of the apostles and of those who had

seen the Lord. He, on account of certain questions

concerning the day of the Passover, went to Rome in the

time of the emperor Antoninus Pins while Anicetus ruled the

church in that city.î 22

ìPolycarp, the disciple of John [the apostle], and bishop of

Smyrna, visited Rome in 159 to confer with Anicetus, the

bishop of that see, on the subject, and urged the tradition

which he had received from the apostles of observing the

14th day. Anicetus, however, declined.î 23 (emphasis mine)

Speaking further to the Church in Smyrna, the Lord continued:

ìFear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the

devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and

ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death,

and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him

hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh

shall not be hurt of the second death.î Revelation 2:10-11

The turmoil caused by those that adhered to the Word of God in celebrating the
Passover, and those that wanted to follow the pagan rites of Easter became
deadly. Records show that Polycarp was martyred on his way back from Rome
after this meeting with Anicetus.

ìBut Polycarp also was not only instructed by apostles, and

conversed with many who had seen Christ, but was also, by

apostles in Asia, appointed bishop of the Church in Smyrna,

whom I also saw in my early youth, for he tarried [on earth]

a very long time, and, when a very old man, gloriously and

most nobly suffering martyrdom, departed this life,

having always taught the things which he had learned

from the apostles, and which the Church has handed

down, and which alone are true.î 24 (emphasis mine)