Saint Apollinaris
Daughter of the consul Anthemius, Apollinaris refused marriage to dedicate herself to God. Under the name Dorotheus and dressed as a man, she lived anonymously in the desert under the guidance of Saint Macarius of Alexandria. Her holiness and identity were only revealed upon her death in the mid-5th century.
Contemporaries
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Guided reading
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SAINT APOLLINARIS (c. 440).
Origins and vow of virginity
Daughter of the consul Authenius, Apollinaris refused marriage to dedicate herself to God and began a life of extreme austerities in a monastery.
She Elle 5th-century virgin who lived under a male disguise. was the daughter of Authenius, a consular figure and a very religious man, who served as consul during the reign of the Emperor Arcadius and governed the empire during the minority of Theodosius the Younger. Faithful to the vow she had made to remain a virgin, after refusing the most illustrious suitors, she retired to a monastery where the skin of her body became, through the stinging of gnats and her great austerities, as hard as that of a tortoise. After some years spent in this way, the spirit of God inspired her to leave that place, to change her name to that of Dorothée 5th-century virgin who lived under a male disguise. Dorotheus, to take on men's clothing, and to place herself under the gui dance of Saint Macarius of saint Macaire d'Alexandrie Desert Father and spiritual guide to Apollinaris. Alexandria. She obeyed and lived holily under this skillful direction without being recognized. At her death, which occurred around the middle of the 5th century, Saint Macarius had a revelation of her name and her life. God has glorified His servant through several miracles.
Cross-dressing and ascetic life
Under divine inspiration, she took on men's clothing and the name Dorotheus to join Saint Macarius of Alexandria without being recognized.
She was the daughter of Anthemius, a consular figure and a very religious man, who served as consul during the reign of the Emperor Arcadius and governed the empire during the minority of Theodosius the Younger. Faithful to the vow she had made to remain a virgin, after refusing the most illustrious suitors, she retired to a monastery where the skin of her body became, through the stinging of gnats and her great austerities, as hard as that of a tortoise. After some years spent in this way, the spirit of God inspired her to leave this place, to change her name to that of Dorotheus, to take on men's clothing, and to place herself under the guidance of Saint Macarius of Alexandria. She obeyed and lived holily under this skillful direction without being recognized. At her death, which occurred around the middle of the 5th century, Saint Macarius received a revelation of her name and her life. God has glorified His servant through several miracles.
Death and revelation
She died around the middle of the 5th century, at which time her identity and holiness were revealed to Saint Macarius through divine intervention.
She was the daughter of Anthemius, a consular figure and a very religious man, who served as consul during the reign of the Emperor Arcadius and governed the empire during the minority of Theodosius the Younger. Faithful to the vow she had made to remain a virgin, after refusing the most illustrious suitors, she retired to a monastery where the skin of her body became, through the stinging of gnats and her great austerities, as hard as that of a tortoise. After some years spent in this way, the Spirit of God inspired her to leave that place, to change her name to that of Dorotheus, to take on men's clothing, and to place herself under the guidance of Saint Macarius of Alexandria. She obeyed and lived holily under this skillful direction without being recognized. At her death, which occurred around the middle of the 5th century, Saint Macarius received a revelation of her name and her life. God has glorified His servant through several miracles.
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The supernatural in their life
The miracles of Saint Apollinaris
Annexes & related entities
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Key Events
- Refused illustrious marriages to preserve her virginity
- Retirement in a monastery and great austerities
- Name change from Dorothea
- Adopted men's clothing to live under the guidance of Saint Macarius of Alexandria
- Miraculous revelation of her true identity at her death