St. Apollinaris, Bishop of Ravenna and Martyr

St. Apollinaris was a 1st-century bishop and martyr who served the city of Ravenna, Italy. Born in Antioch, he was a disciple of St. Peter the Apostle and sent by him to evangelize Ravenna. Apollinaris faced fierce persecution for his Christian faith, enduring multiple beatings and exiles before finally being martyred. He is venerated as the patron saint of Ravenna and is invoked for protection against the plague.