Apollonia of Alexandria

Saint Apollonia of Alexandria was an aged Christian virgin who suffered martyrdom in Alexandria, Egypt, during the persecutions of Emperor Decius around 249 AD. The pagans seized her and forced her to renounce her faith. When she refused, they extracted all her teeth with pincers, then threatened to burn her alive if she did not blaspheme. She asked for a brief moment, which she used to voluntarily throw herself into the fire, preferring death to apostasy. She is venerated as the patroness of dentists and those suffering from toothaches, as well as a protector against sore throats.