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Some accounts say that Apollinaris was one of the seventy-two disciples of Christ. He most likely hailed from Antioch, where St. Peter was the first bishop, and accompanied Peter from that city to Rome, where Peter consecrated Apollinaris and assigned the new bishop to Ravenna. There Apollinaris worked many miracles and swiftly gained converts, so the pagans beat the bishop and threw him out of the city. After fellow Christians nursed him back to health, the undaunted Apollinaris returned to Ravenna. Over the ensuing years Apollinaris doggedly persevered in the face of constant persecution. Even when he was banished to Greece, the holy bishop continued to preach and work miracles until the angry pagans there sent him back to Ravenna. After a Christian centurion allowed Apollinaris to escape from prison, the holy bishop was recaptured, beaten severely, and left for dead. He survived for a brief time in the care of fellow Christians, encouraging them with prophecies of the Church’s triumph, until he finally passed. For the great sufferings and torments he endured, Apollinaris is honored as a martyr. He is also mentioned on July 20th in the modern calendar.
THE birthday [into heaven] of the holy bishop Apollinaris, who was consecrated at Rome by the apostle Peter, and sent to Ravenna, where he endured for the faith of Christ many different tribulations. He afterwards preached the Gospel in AEmilia, where he converted many from the worship of idols. Finally, returning to Ravenna, he terminated his confession of Christ by a glorious martyrdom under the Caesar Vespasian.
At Le Mans, in France, St. Liborius, bishop and confessor.
At Rome, St. Rasyphus, martyr.
In the same city, the martyrdom of St. Primitiva, virgin and martyr.
Also, the holy martyrs Apollonius and Eugenius.
The same day, the birthday [into heaven] of the holy martyrs Trophimus and Theophilus, who received their crown of martyrdom by being beaten with stones, scorched with fire, and finally struck with the sword, in the time of the emperor Diocletian.
In Bulgaria, many holy martyrs whom the impious emperor Nicephorus, whilst he was devastating the churches of God, put to death in various ways—by the sword, the halter, arrows, long imprisonment, and starvation.
At Rome, the saintly virgins Romula, Redempta, and Herundines, mentioned by pope St. Gregory in his writings.
In the same city, the departure from this life of St. Bridget, widow, whose sacred body was taken to Sweden on the 7th of October. Her feast is celebrated on the 8th of that month.
℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
℟. Thanks be to God.