ST. APPOLONIA’S CULT IN ISTRIA

Abstract

Aim. To investigate the history and current practice of worshipping St. Apollonia (the patron saint of dentistry) in Istria using hagiographic methods. Methods. Review of hagiographic literature and sacral iconography, including visits to sacral buildings and ethnographic museums and interviews with local priests and people acquainted with folk tradition. Results. A remarkably rich Istrian sacral heritage includes 13 localities with 14 churches worshipping St. Apollonia, of which one is dedicated to the saint. There are four frescoes, six paintings, and five statues featuring the saint and originating from between the 15th and 19th century.
Conclusion. The review has shown that the cult of St. Apollonia as patron saint of teeth and guardian from tooth diseases is still alive in Istria, and it speaks of the importance of hagiotherapy and local ethnodentistry. The article also refers to St. Apollonia’s revival among dentists of the east Istrian and Kvarnerian seaboard who have been meeting on 9 February every year since 1991 to celebrate a mass dedicated to St. Apollonia. No wonder then that since 1995 St. Apollonia has been the official patron saint of the Croatian Dental Society, and has been featuring the emblem of this association.