Saint Apollinaris. Bishop. Martyr. Feast Day, Today, 23 July.

Text is taken from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless otherwise stated.

Saint Apollinaris.
Bishop and Martyr.
Feast Day 23 July.

Double.

Red Vestments.

Deutsch: Apollinaris von Ravenna, erster Bischof von Ravenna. Detail eines aus dem sechsten Jahrhundert stammenden Mosaiks in der Apsis der Basilika von Sant'Apollinare in Classe.

English: Saint Apollinaris, first Bishop of Ravenna.

Detail from the 6th-Century 

Byzantine 

mosaic in the Apse of the

Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe, near Ravenna, Italy.

Italiano: Sant'Apollinare, primo vescovo di Ravenna. Mosaico

bizantino nel catino absidale di Sant'Apollinare in Classe.

This File: 4 September 2005.

User: MChew.

(Wikimedia Commons)

English: The Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe, Ravenna, Italy.

Français: La Basilique Saint-Apollinaire in Classe à Ravenne (Italie).

Italiano: Ravenna, Basilica di Sant'Apollinare in Classe.

Photo: 6 March 2009.

Source: Own work.

Author: Berthold Werner.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Saint Apollinaris is said to have come from Antioch to Rome with Saint Peter, who anointed him Bishop (Introit, Gradual, Alleluia) and sent him to Ravenna, Italy, to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Therefore, the Epistle chosen is that in which Saint Peter describes the duties of those who are to guide the Church, not domineering, but as models of the flock.

The Gospel also says "that the one who is greatest, shall be like the least, and the one who governs, like the one who serves".

English: The 6th-Century Byzantine mosaic 

in the Apse of the Basilica of

Sant'Apollinare in Classe (Ravenna, Italy).

Italiano: Mosaico bizantino nel catino 

absidale di

Sant'Apollinare in Classe

Ravenna (secolo VI).

Photo: 6 March 2009.

Source: Own work.

Author: Berthold Werner.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Arrested by the pagan priests, he was cruelly beaten and cast into prison, then exiled to the banks of the Danube and to Thrace. Having returned to Ravenna, he was again persecuted, and died in 79 A.D., from the effects of torture and fatigue. Thus, did he put to profit the talents entrusted to him by God (Communion).

In the midst of our trials, let us remain united to Jesus and He will prepare for us, as for this Saint, a place in His Kingdom (Gospel).

Mass: Sacerdótes Dei, benedícite Dóminum.
Commemoration of Saint Liborius. Praesta, quaésumus.

English: Interior of the Basilica of

Sant'Apollinare in Classe, Ravenna, Italy.

Italiano: Basilica di Sant'Apollinare in Classe.

Photo: 8 January 2012.

Source: Own work.

Author: Sansa55.

(Wikimedia Commons)

The following Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia.

The Basilica of Sant' Apollinare in Classe, is an important monument of Byzantine art, near Ravenna, Italy. When UNESCO inscribed eight Ravenna sites on the World Heritage List, it cited this Basilica as "an outstanding example of the Early-Christian Basilicas, in its purity and simplicity of design, and use of space and the sumptuous nature of its decoration".

The imposing brick structure was erected at the beginning of the 6th-Century A.D., by order of Bishop Ursicinus, using money from the Greek banker, Iulianus Argentarius. It was certainly located next to a Christian Cemetery, and quite possibly on top of a pre-existing pagan one, as some of the ancient tombstones were re-used in its construction.

Sant'Apollinare in Classe was consecrated on 9 May 549 A.D., by Bishop Maximian, and dedicated to Saint Apollinaris, first Bishop of Ravenna and Classe. The Basilica is thus contemporary with the Basilica of San Vitale of Ravenna. In 856 A.D., the Relics of Saint Apollinaris were transferred from the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe to the Basilica of Sant' Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna.

The Exterior has a large façade, with two simple uprights and one mullioned window with three openings. The Narthex and building, to the right of the entry, are later additions, as is the fine 9th-Century round Bell Tower, with mullioned windows.