The disciple of the Apostle Peter, born in the city of Antioch, St. Apollinaris was taken by St. Peter from Antioch to Rome, where he was ordained as the bishop of Ravenna. Upon arriving in Ravenna, Apollinaris entered the house of a soldier named Irenaeus, whose son he healed from blindness, converting the whole household to Christ. He also healed the wife of the military commander of Ravenna from a serious illness, leading to the baptism of their entire household. Following the commander’s wishes, Apollinaris stayed in his home for twelve years, preaching the Gospel and baptizing the unbelievers. He was severely tortured by pagan leaders multiple times, but God's mighty hand supported and saved him. Ultimately, he was sentenced to exile in Illyria (on the Balkan), but the ship he was traveling on was shipwrecked in a storm, and of all the passengers, only St. Apollinaris along with two soldiers and three of his clerics were saved. Miraculously saved, the soldiers believed in the power of Apollinaris' God and were baptized. Apollinaris then went on to preach the Gospel throughout the Balkans, reaching as far down as the Danube, before heading to Thrace, where he also spread the Gospel amid great pressure. After three years of work in the Balkans, he was expelled back to Italy. He arrived in Ravenna, where the faithful rejoiced unusually. Hearing of this, the pagan leaders wrote to Emperor Vespasian about Apollinaris, labeling him a sorcerer and questioning whether they should put him to death as an enemy of their gods. The emperor replied that he should not be killed but rather asked to offer a sacrifice to the gods or be expelled from the city, stating that "it is unworthy to take revenge on anyone for the gods, as they themselves can take revenge on their enemies if they get angry." Nevertheless, despite this imperial decree, the pagans attacked Apollinaris and stabbed him with daggers. From his severe wounds, this servant of God passed away and was welcomed into the kingdom of God. The relics of St. Apollinaris rest in Ravenna, in the church bearing his name.

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