Saint Apollonia

Saint Apollonia

Born: 2^nd Century

Died: c249

Feast Day: 9^th February

Patron Saint: Dentists, Dental Disease

Symbols in Art: Forceps gripping a drawn tooth, Gold tooth

Saint Apollonia was born in Alexandria sometime in the 2^nd Century. She was an elderly deaconess during the reign of Emperor Philip whose persecution of Christians started with an old man Metrius, then a woman named Quinta.  Shortly after this Apollonia was captured, refusing to sacrifice to the pagan gods, she had her teeth extracted, one by one and was finally threatened with burning on a large fire.  Legend has it that she asked to wait a moment, acting as if she was considering their request, instead she threw herself willingly into the flames.  She died c249.

Other legends claim she did not die in the flames and her throat was finally cut.  It is said that before her death, she shouted out to prayer in her name for anyone with teeth problems.

References:  https://catholicsaints.info/saint-apollonia-the-patron-saint-of-dentistry/

https://geniova.com/why-is-saint-apollonia-the-patron-saint-of-dentists/?lang=en

https://blogs.bl.uk/digitisedmanuscripts/2014/02/happy-st-apollonias-day.html

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

Saints Robbie Blake, HarperCollins