February 9

St. Apollonia

When she lived:

St. Apollonia is believed to have lived during the late 2nd century and early 3rd century, around the years 200-249 AD.

Where she lived:

St. Apollonia lived in Alexandria, an ancient city located in Egypt. During her time, Alexandria was a prominent cultural, intellectual, and trading hub in the Mediterranean region.

Notable world events during the time of her life:

Severan Dynasty: The Severan dynasty ruled the Roman Empire during the late 2nd and early 3rd centuries. This period saw a mix of military successes, internal strife, and cultural developments.
Crisis of the Third Century: The Roman Empire experienced a period of crisis marked by economic instability, military conflicts, and numerous short-lived emperors. This era had a significant impact on the stability of the empire.
Persecutions of Christians: During St. Apollonia’s lifetime, Christians faced intermittent persecutions by the Roman authorities. This period saw waves of hostility towards Christians, varying in intensity and impact.
Decian Persecution: In 250 AD, Emperor Decius initiated a widespread persecution of Christians, requiring citizens to offer sacrifices to the Roman gods. This event had a profound effect on the early Christian community.
Origen’s Theological Works: Origen, an influential Christian theologian, lived and worked in Alexandria during the same time as St. Apollonia. His theological writings and teachings greatly influenced early Christian thought.
Roman-Gothic Wars: In the mid-3rd century, the Roman Empire faced invasions and conflicts from various groups, including the Goths. These wars highlighted the challenges faced by the Roman military and administration.

Her patronage:

St. Apollonia is recognized as the patron saint of dentists and those suffering from dental problems. Her story is often invoked to provide comfort to those in pain, particularly dental pain, as she herself famously endured the torture of having her teeth shattered during her persecution.

Early Years

Apollonia was born in the 2nd century in Alexandria. Her father was a Roman magistrate who firmly believed in the religion of the state. Apollonia grew up into a beautiful maiden, good and pure. She was taught by her mother about Jesus Christ and Christianity at an early age.

When she was older, she developed a strong desire to be baptized and serve God. An angel appeared and led her out of Alexandria into the desert to the cell of Leonine, a disciple of Saint Anthony.

Baptism and Ministry

Apollonia told Leonine that she wanted to be baptized into Christianity. She was baptized and sent back to Alexandria to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ. She returned home full of joy and energy to preach the Word of God. She preached with eloquence to the people who were hungry for the Word. She won a lot of souls for Jesus Christ through her preaching.

Apollonia’s father received complaints that his daughter was breaking the law by preaching the gospel. She was reprimanded by her father, but she refused to abandon her faith.

Death

On February 9, 249, a mob attacked and captured Apollonia, demanding that she abandon her faith. Emperor Phillip was on a mission to rid the empire of Christianity. The mob brutally hit her face to the extent that she lost all her teeth. She was ordered to leave Christianity and worship pagan gods publicly or be thrown into the fire.

They kindled a big fire and threatened to burn her alive if she stood by her faith. She then jumped into the fire voluntarily, to the surprise of the mob.

The fact that she died for her faith and beliefs led to people describing her as a martyr. However, St. Apollonia was not consumed entirely by the fire at Alexandria. Remnants of her head and teeth were recovered from the ashes by her disciples. These fragments have been distributed all over Europe, with some bits and pieces reaching America.

The hand of St. Apollonia is in the ancient Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere in Rome. San Basilio in Rome has preserved the jaw of Apollo. Another jaw is kept at the church of Saint Anne de Beaupré,near Quelle.

Pieces of her teeth are held in churches in Naples, Volterra, and Bologna. All Roman Catholic churches consider her remains to be sacred.

St. Apollonia’s martyrdom resulted in many churches and altars being dedicated to her. Catholics believe that she is the patroness of dentists. Individuals suffering from toothache and other dental diseases pray to her so that she can intercede on their behalf.

The fact that she defied her persecutors at such an old age reflects that she was a courageous woman. Other Christians fled the city, but she fought her battle of faith till the end.

St. Apollonia belongs to a class of early Christian martyrs. When they are confronted with the choice between renouncing their faith or suffering death, they voluntarily embrace their death.

Apollonia spent her whole life serving God, and even at her old age, she was determined to spread the gospel. She dared to risk her life to comfort imprisoned Christians.

In Roman Catholic art, paintings of St. Apollonia are visible on stained glass windows, illuminated manuscripts, architecture, and other forms of Christian art. These representations reflect the lives or deaths of saints.

St. Apollonia is represented in the art with a pair of pincers holding a tooth or with a golden tooth suspended from her necklace. This shows the way that she died; hence, Catholics view her as the patron saint of dentists.

5 Interesting Facts About St. Apollonia

Her image is the side support of the arms of the British Dental
Association.
In art, she is often represented with pincers, in which a tooth is
held. Ancient art depicts her with a golden tooth at the end of
her necklace.
In some parts of Europe, Catholics believe that fasting and prayer
On the day of St. Apollonia’s celebration (February 9), guarantees
a toothache-free year.
St. Apollonia is observed as the patron saint of dentists because all her
teeth were knocked out for refusing to renounce her faith in
Christianity.
Her greatest sacrifice was that of her own life as she jumped free.
from their captors and jumped willingly into the burning fire.

Prayer to St. Apollonia

Glorious Apollonia, patron saint of dentistry and refuge to all those suffering from diseases of the teeth, I consecrate myself to thee, beseeching thee to number me among thy clients. Assist me by your intercession with God in my daily work and intercede with Him to obtain for me a happy death. Pray that my heart, like yours, may be inflamed with the love of Jesus and Mary, through Christ our Lord. Amen. My God, bring me safe through temptation and strengthen me as thou didst our own patriarch Apollonia, through Christ our Lord. Amen.