St. Apollonia Novena
Contents
Show HideSt. Apollonia was an Early Christian martyr. She lived in the second century. She was from Alexandria.
St. Apollonia showed great courage amidst persecution. You can use this novena to seek intercession from this courageous martyr in many aspects of your life.
About St. Apollonia
St. Apollonia’s year of birth is not known for certain, but she was born during the second century. She lived in Alexandria in Egypt during the reign of Emperor Philip the Arabian. He reigned from 244-249.
When Philip the Arabian was ruler of the Roman Empire, a persecution of Christians in Alexandria began. During festivities to commemorate the millennium of the establishment of Rome, a pagan mob rose up. These pagans began to attack Christians, and the authorities did nothing to stop the violence.
Dionysius, bishop of Alexandria, wrote of the attack in a letter to the bishop of Antioch. The letter relates that a Christian man named Metras and a Christian woman named Quinta were both killed by the mob. Metras was tortured and stoned to death. Quinta was scourged and stoned because she enraged the mob by refusing to worship idols.
During this attack, most of the Christians fled the city. But the pagan mob seized an old deaconess named Apollonia. They beat her repeatedly, and their many blows broke Apollonia’s teeth.
After this severe beating, the pagan mob built a large fire from a pile of wood outside the gates of the city. They tried to make Apollonia repeat certain words after them. It is unclear if the words were an invocation of pagan gods or words of blasphemy against God. They told Apollonia that they would burn her in the fire if she refused to do as they commanded.
Apollonia asked her tormentors to pause a moment, and it looked as if she were considering complying with their commands. But instead of uttering the words they wanted her to say, she willingly jumped into the fire they threatened to burn her in.
The story of Apollonia’s death was also recounted in great detail in a book of hagiographies called Golden Legend, written by a Dominican named Jacobus de Voragine around the year 1260.
Apollonia was one of several early Christian martyrs who did not wait for their captors to kill them. St. Augustine later discussed these circumstances of death in the first book of his work The City of God. He held that, because no one is allowed to cause their own death, the deaths of Apollonia and others like her were special inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The account of Bishop Dionysius also suggests no reproach of her actions and that her death was a martyrdom.
St. Apollonia’s Feast Day: February 9th
Why Pray the St. Apollonia Novena?
St. Apollonia is the patron saint of dentists. You can pray the St. Apollonia Novena if you are a dentist. Or you can pray this novena to seek St. Apollonia’s intercession for a dentist you know.
St. Apollonia is also the patron saint of those suffering from a toothache. You can pray the St. Apollonia Novena if you are suffering from a toothache or from some other dental problem. Or you can pray the St. Apollonia Novena for someone you know who is suffering from a toothache or from some other dental problem.
You can pray the St. Apollonia Novena for any intention!
St. Apollonia Novena Prayers
St. Apollonia Novena - Day 1
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You and praise You for giving us St. Apollonia as an example of holiness. Please hear the prayers she brings before You on our behalf.
St. Apollonia, we know few details about your life. But we know that you were an old woman at the time that a pagan mob began to attack Christians in Alexandria. Despite your advanced age, you held courageously to your faith against brutal mistreatment.
We ask you to take all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God may bless and assist all elderly people.
Pray for us, that we may always serve God faithfully despite any difficulties we might face. Pray that we may hold fast to our faith even amidst great suffering.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Apollonia, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Apollonia Novena - Day 2
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You and praise You for giving us St. Apollonia as an example of holiness. Please hear the prayers she brings before You on our behalf.
St. Apollonia, you lived in a society that was hostile to Christians. When a group of pagans began to attack Christians in your city, you were captured and beaten because of your faith. Though you knew it would lead to your death, you held fast to your faith.
We ask you to take all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God may strengthen and bless all who are persecuted for their Christian faith.
Pray for us, that we may courageously practice our faith in every circumstance. Pray that we will grow in love for God each day of our lives.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Apollonia, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Apollonia Novena - Day 3
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You and praise You for giving us St. Apollonia as an example of holiness. Please hear the prayers she brings before You on our behalf.
St. Apollonia, you practiced your Christian faith in the midst of persecution. When pagans in Alexandria began brutally attacking Christians, they beat you until your teeth were broken. Despite how brutally your persecutors treated you, you held fast to your faith.
We ask you to take all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God may grant the grace of conversion to all non-Christians.
Pray for us, that we may always do all we can to lead others to Christ. Pray that we may take every opportunity God gives us to advance in virtue and holiness each day.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Apollonia, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Apollonia Novena - Day 4
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You and praise You for giving us St. Apollonia as an example of holiness. Please hear the prayers she brings before You on our behalf.
St. Apollonia, you were captured by your pagan persecutors in Alexandria as other Christians were fleeing the city. You were beaten repeatedly, and the many blows broke your teeth. Because of this suffering you endured, you are honored as the patron saint of those suffering from dental problems.
We ask you to take all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God may bless and assist all who are suffering from dental problems.
Pray for us, that we may never allow any suffering to deter us from serving God. Pray that we will grow closer to God each day of our lives.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Apollonia, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Apollonia Novena - Day 5
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You and praise You for giving us St. Apollonia as an example of holiness. Please hear the prayers she brings before You on our behalf.
St. Apollonia, you are honored as the patron saint of dentists because you suffered trauma to your teeth. When the pagan mob was beating you because of your Christian faith, they broke your teeth. You eventually gave up your life out of love for God.
We ask you to take all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that God may bless and assist all dentists.
Pray for us, that we may always do all things in our lives out of love for God. Pray that we will do all we can to serve God worthily in every circumstance we encounter.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Apollonia, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Apollonia Novena - Day 6
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You and praise You for giving us St. Apollonia as an example of holiness. Please hear the prayers she brings before You on our behalf.
St. Apollonia, you were a faithful Christian in a society that was often hostile to your faith. As other Christians were fleeing from a pagan mob, you were captured. You were beaten and threatened with death. But out of love for God, you refused to renounce your faith.
We ask you to take all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that we may grow in our love for God.
Pray for us, that may always place our relationship with God above all else in our lives. Pray that we may serve God faithfully no matter what obstacles we might face.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Apollonia, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Apollonia Novena - Day 7
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You and praise You for giving us St. Apollonia as an example of holiness. Please hear the prayers she brings before You on our behalf.
St. Apollonia, you were one of many Christians in Alexandria who suffered from persecution when a group of pagans began to attack. You were captured and beaten severely. Even though you were threatened with death, you courageously held fast to your faith.
We ask you to take all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that we may grow in the courage we need for holiness.
Pray for us, that we may grow in every virtue we need for holiness. Pray that we do all that we can to grow closer to God each day of our lives.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Apollonia, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Apollonia Novena - Day 8
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You and praise You for giving us St. Apollonia as an example of holiness. Please hear the prayers she brings before You on our behalf.
St. Apollonia, you suffered greatly on account of your Christian faith. You were brutally beaten by the pagan mob, and your teeth were broken. You were threatened with death because of your faith, but you endured your sufferings courageously and refused to renounce your faith.
We ask you to take all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that we may unite any sufferings we face to the sufferings of Christ.
Pray for us, that we may serve God faithfully in every circumstance. Pray that we may never allow any sufferings we face to deter us from serving God.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Apollonia, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Apollonia Novena - Day 9
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You and praise You for giving us St. Apollonia as an example of holiness. Please hear the prayers she brings before You on our behalf.
St. Apollonia, you lived in a society that was often hostile to the Christian faith. A group of pagans began to brutally attack Christians in your city. Despite the suffering you faced, you held fast to your love of God and His Church.
We ask you to take all of our petitions before the throne of God, and we particularly ask today that you pray that the Church may be strong and vibrant.
Pray for us, that we may always be eager to serve God and His Church in whatever ways He calls us to. Pray that we may do all we can to truly live saintly lives.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
St. Apollonia, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.