Saint Apollinaris

Saint Apollinaris

Born: 1^st Century, Syria

Died: 2^nD Century, Ravenna, Italy

Feast Day: 20^th July

Patron Saint: Epilepsy; Gout; Emilia-Romagna region (Italy), Aachen, Burtscheid, Düsseldorf, Ravenna, Remagen

Shrine: Ravenna, Italy

Legend says that Saint Peter sent Saint Apollinaris to Ravenna, Italy as its first Bishop.  His preaching was successful gaining many converts, which upset the pagans, who drove him from the city.  He returned to Ravenna but was driven away a second time.  He returned for a third time and was beaten and put on a ship heading for Greece, however, was sent back to Italy after he preached as successfully in Greece, where the pagans took the same actions as the Italian pagans, beating him severely.  Returning for a fourth time to Ravenna, by which point Christians were being officially persecuted, he was beaten so severely that he died from the wounds, but not before he prophesied that there would be more persecutions, but the church would ultimately win.  A Basilica in Ravenna was built to honour Apollinaris

References: https://www.irenebrination.com/irenebrination_notes_on_a/2018/07/saint-apollinaris-of-ravenna.html

https://www.catholicireland.net/saintoftheday/st-apollinaris-1st-or-2nd-century-bishop/

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-apollinaris-110

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-apollinaris/