Apollonia, Saint

APOLLONIA, ɑ̄"pel-lō´nî-a, SAINT: A martyr of Alexandria, according to a letter from Dionysius, bishop of Alexandria, to Fabian of Antioch, preserved by Eusebius (Hist. eccl., vi. 41), and giving an account of a persecution of the Alexandrian Christians in the winter of 248-249. This persecution was the work of the populace, stirred up by the celebration of the one-thousandth anniversary of the founding of Rome, but was connived at by the authorities. As victims of this outburst Dionysius names Metras, Quinta, Sarapion, and Apollonia, whom he calls in Greek parthenon presbutin, probably signifying a deaconess. Because in her martyrdom all her teeth were knocked out, she is popularly regarded in Roman Catholic countries as a patroness against toothache. Her festival falls on Feb. 9.

A. Hauck.

Bibliography: K. J. Neumann, Der römische Staat, i. 331, Leipsic, 1890.