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Apollonia
was born in Egypt in the third century. She was an elderly deaconess
who lived in Alexandria in a refuge for Christians. One night,
angry pagans began a riot and violently attacked believers of
the faith. Apollonia was struck repeatedly in the face and jaw
until all of her teeth were knocked out. She then said a prayer
and jumped into a bonfire — which St. Augustine adamantly
defended as an act of heroic faith and not suicide, which would
be unsaintly. Dentists have enjoyed Apollonia’s patronage
for centuries, and in the modern world, there’s a dentist’s
quarterly called The Apollonian. Parts of her jaw and many of
her teeth are presently housed in churches across Europe. Apollonia
is also invoked against toothaches. Her feast day is February
9. |
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| St.
Apollonia
Patron St. of
Dentists and Toothaches |
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