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Icon of St. Apollinaris,
Bishop of Ravenna, Martyr for Christ
Feast: July 23
St. Apollinaris was born at
Antioch, became one of St. Peter's disciples, and was later appointed
the first Bishop of Ravenna in Italy. He brought many souls to know
Christ, evangelised the territory of Bologna, and converted the
nobleman Rufinus, for which act he was exiled. He suffered shipwreck
off Dalmatia and on three occasions was driven from his see of Ravenna
.He fled a fourth time when emperor Vespasian banished all Christians.
He was discovered and beaten by a mob at Classis, a suburb of Ravenna,
but survived. Holy Hierarch Apollinaris, pray to God for us!
Icon:
Detail and in original context. From the frescoed apse of the Basilica
of St. Apollinaris in Ravenna (San Apollinare).
Beneath the icon(s) are shown the relics of the Saint, on the left in
the shrine which contains them at Siegburg, and on the rt. as they rest
at Düsseldorf.
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