Saint Apolinario

Apolinário was born in Antioch of Syria, without an exact date, in the 1st century.

Name

Apolinário is a beautiful name, which can be defined with two terminologies: “powerful” and “virtuous”. When combining these two words, it means that he is “powerful in virtues”.

Meeting with Peter

This saint, perhaps unknown to you, has a singular peculiarity: He is in the Genesis of Christianity. Yes! He had direct contact with the apostles of Christ. The meeting with Peter would change his life. He was in Antioch, with his pagan family, when he met the apostle and was deeply touched by his words, to the point of following him to Rome.

Suffering for the sake of Christ

He was then sent by Saint Peter to Ravenna, where he built a church of which he was bishop. Apolinario evangelized that region, preaching in the name of Jesus, which angered the pagans. Therefore, he suffered torture to stop announcing the Gospel. Once, he was beaten so brutally that he almost died. Furthermore, he was forced to stand barefoot and throw himself on hot coals and boiling water was also poured over his wounds.

The effectiveness of the Gospel

Entering the house of an elite person at the time to cure his daughter, Apolinário brought her back to life. The consequence was the conversion of the young girl, her mother and a whole crowd.

Easter

Apolinário died around the year 79 AD, in Ravenna, after being beaten by a crowd. In the place of martyrdom, a basilica was built, today called Santo Apolinario em Classe, consecrated in 549.

Popes Symmachus and Honorius I helped spread the cult of this saint.

The Saint’s relics were transferred to the city of Ravenna in the 9th century. They were preserved in a church that was called Basilica of Santo Apolinário Novo.

Source: Canção Nova