St. Apollinaris lived in the second century and faithfully led the young Church in Ravenna, Italy, as its first bishop; he is honored as a martyr.

For a long time, he was known as a follower of St. Peter, who made him bishop, but this claim and the legend of his life are likely inventions of a later age. The legend holds that he and the Church in Ravenna faced persecution—that he was forced to flee several times and was stabbed, stoned, hacked with knives, and covered in scalding water, among other tortures.

We know that Christian inscriptions dating to the second century have been found in Ravenna, so it can be inferred that the faith was present there at an early date. We also know that the Church of the first centuries held St. Apollinaris in very high esteem—he was famous among early martyrs and was remembered for his intercession in prayer.

Some early records name him as a martyr, while others state that he led the Church for a long time and did not die from persecutions. Some early saints were remembered as martyrs if they suffered greatly for the faith, even if they were not killed for it.

St. Apollinaris, famous in the early Church for your faithfulness, pray for us!