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The Cult of St. Lucia, Patroness of the Eyes: Some Examples from Croatian Ethnomedical Tradition

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Abstract

In the introductory part, the authors present several patrons/patronesses of the eyesand sight, as well as the protectors from eye diseases. In addition, presented is a shorthagiography of St. Lucia, the most famous among the patrons of the eyes. The secondpart is dedicated to the cult of St. Lucia, which has existed among the Croats from the10th century until present day. Testimonies to this are numerous churches, chapels,altars, paintings, sculptures, processions, pilgrimage, prayers, votive gifts, and manyother forms of folk piety. By reviewing several characteristic examples from Istriaand the region of Kvarner, the importance of this veneration is indicated, for generaland religious tradition as well as for the history of medicine, especially the history ofethno-ophthalmology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of the History of Medicine, Rijeka University School of Medicine, Turkey

    Ante Skrobonja, Amir Muzur & Tatjana Culina

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  1. Ante Skrobonja
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  2. Amir Muzur
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  3. Tatjana Culina
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Skrobonja, A., Muzur, A. & Culina, T. The Cult of St. Lucia, Patroness of the Eyes: Some Examples from Croatian Ethnomedical Tradition. Int Ophthalmol 25, 37–41 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:INTE.0000018546.38210.e0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:INTE.0000018546.38210.e0

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