Apollinaris of Ravenna

Who they were

Few sure facts are known of Apollinaris, first bishop of Ravenna. Tradition makes him a young man of a pagan family in Antioch, converted by St Peter, who later sent him to Ravenna; other sources place him later, around 150-200.

As bishop he was beaten and persecuted many times; returning one day from a visit to lepers, he was beaten so badly that he died seven days later. The basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe, consecrated in 549, stands where he was martyred.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: Apollinaris has been honoured as a martyr since the early centuries; his veneration spread to Rome and beyond.

Why that counted as sanctity

Apollinaris followed Christ to the ends of the world, as Peter had, and gave his life as a shepherd for his flock.