"For Him [Christ] being the Son of God, we adore, but the martyrs as disciples and imitators of the Lord we cherish as they deserve for their matchless affection towards their own King and Teacher. May it be our lot also to be found partakers and fellow-disciples with them......And so we afterwards took up his [Polycarp's] 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 birth-day of his martyrdom for the commemoration of those that have already fought in the contest, and for the training and preparation of those that shall do so hereafter."
--Epistle of Ignatius of Antioch to the Smyrnaeans, on the martyrdom of Polycarp
Score one for pre-emptive apologetics! Thank you, Claud!