Apollonia | |
|---|---|
 Saint Apollonia, by Francisco de Zurbarán Louvre Museum, from the Convent of the Order of Our Lady of Mercy and the Redemption of the Captives Discalced of Saint Joseph (Seville). | |
| Virgin and martyr | |
| Born | 2nd century |
| Died | 249 Alexandria, Egypt |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodoxy |
| Canonized | pre-congregation |
| Feast | 9 February (Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Churches), 2 Meshir (Coptic Orthodox Church) |
| Attributes | Tongs (sometimes with a tooth in them), depicted holding a cross or martyr's palm or crown |
| Patronage | Dentists; Tooth problems; Elst, Belgium; Ariccia, Italy; Cuccaro Monferrato, Italy |
Saint Apollonia (Greek: 'Αγία Απολλωνία, Coptic: Ϯⲁⲅⲓⲁ Ⲁⲡⲟⲗⲗⲟⲛⲓⲁ) was one of a group of virgin martyrs who suffered in Alexandria during a local uprising against the Christians prior to the persecution of Decius. According to church tradition, her torture included having all of her teeth violently pulled out or shattered. For this reason, she is popularly regarded as the patroness of dentistry and those suffering from toothache or other dental problems. French court painter Jehan Fouquet painted the scene of St. Apollonia's torture in The Martyrdom of St. Apollonia.[1]
- ^ Olmert, Michael (1996). Milton's Teeth and Ovid's Umbrella: Curiouser & Curiouser Adventures in History, p.66. Simon & Schuster, New York. ISBN 0-684-80164-7.