This blog is supposed to be a space for working-class people to rest and reflect on spirituality, get some comfort and maybe some resources, and not worry about arguments. Positive stuff.
In that spirit, please meet St. Apollonia. She is a cure for headaches and toothaches. Her feast day is tomorrow, Feb. 9.
A person writing on an Arab Christian Facebook page says, "She was a rare beauty and courage, the saint was born in Alexandria, from two Christian parents who pious her Lords on the life of piety and holiness, and she slept in virtue, love of fasting and prayer...she dedicated her life to God and served in the church as a servant who cared for the poor and needy and after the death of her father she lived in a simple house and her love for everyone was affected In the souls of her pious friends, she attracted the preparation of forgiveness to the faith in the Lord Jesus Christ."
The common western and Roman Catholic recounting of St. Apollonia's life is as follows:
St. Apollonia, who died in the year 249, was martyred for not renouncing her faith during the reign of Emperor Philip. The account of the life of St. Apollonia was written by St. Dionysius to Fabian, Bishop of Antioch. Apollonia had all her teeth knocked out after being hit in the face by a Christian persecutor under the reign of Emperor Philip. After she was threatened with fire unless she renounced her faith, Apollonia jumped into the flames voluntarily. She is considered the patron of dental diseases and is often invoked by those with toothaches. Ancient art depicts her with a golden tooth at the end of her necklace. Also in art, she is seen with pincers holding a tooth.
See here for more details.
Returning to our Arab Christian friend, they conclude by saying "Coptic painters photograph St. Apollonia and with a branch of palm tree symbol of service and in the other hand, as she catches a tooth as she also draws, and she prays in the middle of the tone raising her gaze towards the sky."
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