Saint of the day, February 9 – Zeale
Saint Apollonia was a holy virgin who was martyred during an uprising against Christians in Alexandria during the third century.
February 9 – St. Apollonia
Born: c. 2nd century
Died: 249
Nationality: Egyptian
Vocation: lay
Attributes: pincers, teeth, martyr’s palm
Patronage: toothaches, dentists
Canonization: pre-congregation
Apollonia was a holy virgin who was martyred during an uprising against Christians in Alexandria during the third century.
A mob of local men seized her and gave her repeated blows to her mouth so that all of her teeth were broken. They prepared a place to burn her alive if she did not speak blasphemy against Christ. When she obtained a little freedom from her captors, she willingly sprang into the fire and was burned to death.
St. Apollonia, pray for us.
