One of the first notable martyrs in church history was St. Apollinaris. St. Peter appointed him Bishop of Ravenna. Because of his preaching and the miracles he performed in Ravenna, he quickly gained governmental recognition. On the other hand, his actions and words incited the wrath of the pagan populace, who repeatedly brutally assaulted Apollinaris.

After being stabbed with knives and doused with boiling water during one beating, Apollinaris was placed on a ship and sent to Greece.

The same pattern of sermons, healings, and sufferings persisted in Greece. He was transported back to Italy after being brutally beaten by Greek pagan people.

Emperor Vespasian's proclamation of exile against the Christians kept Apollinaris hidden for a while, but as he was departing through the city's gates, he was brutally attacked and beaten. He lived for seven days, predicting that persecutions would worsen but that the Church would eventually win.

Other Saints of the Day
St. Gudula
St. Maximus of Pavia
St. Lucian of Beauvais
St. Erhard of Regensburg
St. Severinus of Noricum