Today we honor Apolena. Happy name day, Apolena!
The name Apolena is a variant of Apollonia, which is of Greek origin and the feminine form of Apollonios. Apollonios is from an ancient name that was derived from the name of the Greek god, Apollo. Apollo was the Greek god of sunlight, music and poetry. Saint Apollonia was an elderly 3rd-century Christian martyr. In art, she is often portrayed with a pair of tongs and an outsized molar.
St. Apollonia
According to legend, her torture included having all of her teeth violently pulled out or shattered. For this reason, she is popularly regarded as the patroness of dentistry and those suffering from toothache or other dental problems.
