Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.17234/SEC.37.8
From the Prehistoric and Proto-Slavic Great Mother to the Mother of God, the Blessed Virgin Mary in Bapska. Tracing Proto-Slavic Sacrality in the Far East of Croatia
Jelka Vince Pallua
Abstract
The aim of this contribution is to reach a multi-layered encounter between the pre-Christian and Christian worlds in the far east of Croatia – in western Srijem, particularly in Bapska and its surroundings, but also in the Fruška gora region in eastern Srijem. The centuries-long veneration with pilgrimages to Our Lady of Bapska, the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Bapska, can primarily be observed in the context of Marian devotion among Croats, but also as a possible trace of Proto-Slavic sacrality with the Blessed Virgin Mary as an interpretatio christiana of Mokoš, the supreme goddess of the ancient Slavs. To our knowledge, authors who have dealt with Bapska and Srijem have not dedicated themselves to such research. Numerous toponyms, microtoponyms, oikonyms, oronyms, 'Our Lady's wells' for healing, and other points in space, along with accompanying legends, are viewed as possible indicative, unadulterated historical monuments within the framework of the Proto-Slavic sacralization of the landscape of Srijem.
Keywords
Slavic mythology; Christianization; Proto-Slavic Great Mother Mokosh; Baba; Bapska; Srijem; the far east of Croatia; Fruška gora; Privina glava
Hrčak ID:
342880
URI
Publication date:
30.12.2025.
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