Zvonimir Kaić

Hrčak - Portal of scientific journals of Croatia

A S C Acta Stomatol Croat, Vol. 34, br. 1, 2000.104IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 325TH ANNIVERS-ARY OF THE ALTAR PALA OF ST. APOLLONIA IN ST.CATHERINE’S ACADEMIC CHURCH IN ZAGREBThe academic church of St. Catherine (the building of whichwas started on 20 May 1620) on Catherine’s Square in Zagrebalso includes a chapel called St. Apollonia, which according totradition was built in the year 1670, and the altar in 1675. Thealtar pala consecrated to St. Apollonia originates from theworkshop of Hans Georg Geigerfeld, from Novo Mesto. In herpaper “Hans Georg Geigerfeld in Croatia”, Mirjana RepaniÊ-Braun describes the work as follows. “On the painting of St.Apollonia, which is situated in the lower middle part of the altarretabla the saint is presented frontally and occupies almost theentire height of the canvas. The painted area, which on the leftof the composition shows an architectural scene and on the rightopens up a landscape with a low horizon, is typically manneristic,as also is the sculptured coldness of the faces, modelled with softblue shadows. The surface of the dresses and capes are linearlybroken up with a medley of narrow folds which lack finesse.There is also a lack of a subtle feeling for colour and light effecton the material, and the large bony hands with the long, thinfingers are quite different from the firm, anatomic hands on otherGeigerfeld paintings. Because of the structure of the paintedsurface and the thickness of the oil paint, which has multiplecracks, the painting of St. Apollonia may have been partiallypainted over”.We are proud to present this restored painting of St.Apollonia to the readers of Acta Stomatologica Croatia. Ifsources of information are correct, this year marks its 325thanniversary (1675-2000). “Lessons of St. Apollonia, Virgin and Martyr” containingfacts about her life and martyrdom, are read before her altar insome churches in Dalmatia on 9 February, St. Apollonia’s Day.Thus in his article “Iconographic presentations of St. Apolloniain Dalmatia” ©ime KordiÊ presents the results of his investigationor study of two manuscripts of the lessons, of which onerepresents the “old lessons” and the other “new lessons”. The oldlessons were written in Slovic script (‘schiavetto’) (Ova Sveticzaodvitniczaje, i likaricza, onnim kojse gnoj piporucuju, kadaje bolezubi) and according to the manuscript and style of writing andpaper used it can be concluded that it originates from the middleof the 18th century. It appears to be a kind of translation of amanuscript from the town of Brag in Portugal. However, thirtyyears after ©ime KordiÊ’s investigation no traces of the abovelessons were found in St. Ivan’s Church in ©ibenik. However, thiswas not the case in Kruπevo, a village 17 km from Primoπten.Thus, with the help of a colleague, Dr. Jere Gaπperov from ©ibenikand the Vicar in St. Martin’s Church in Kruπevo, don Ivo BabaËiÊ,we are above to present to our readers the text of the Lessons “TheLife of Saint Apollonia, Virgin and Martyr”. At a time when there were few physician-dentists the people turned to St.Apollonia for help.º Later, with the development of dental care,the practical role of St. Apollonia gradually diminished.A S CActa Stomatol Croat, Vol. 34, br. 1, 2000. 105Today an interesting record remains of the spreading of St.Apollonia’s cult from Alexandria in Africa to our coastal andlater continental regions. Therefore, on 9 February, St.Apollonia’s Day, the fifth anniversary of her becoming thepatroness of patients, students and teachers at the School ofDental Medicine University of Zagreb, we have attempted topresent to our readers these two centres, the urban centre inZagreb, when her residence was associated with St. Catherine’sAcademic Church, and the rural centre in Kruπevac, in theDalmatian coastal area, in which St. Apollonia’s Day has beenthe votive day for its inhabitants since 1941.Sources:1. M. Vanino, Jesuits and the Croatian People, p. 442, Vrelai prinosi, Zagreb, 1969.2. M. RepaniÊ-Braun, Hans Georg Geigerfeld in Croatia,Peristil, Zagreb, 33, 33, 85-94, 1990.3. ©. KordiÊ, Iconographic presentation of St. Apollonia inDalmatia, Report, XIV, 1, Zagreb, 35-43, 1971.4. Anonymous, The life of St. Apollonia, Virgin and Martyr,Archive of the Parish and Brotherhood of St. Martin inKruπevo, near Primoπten, 6 typewritten pages.Zvonimir KaiÊDepartment of the History ofDental MedicineDepartment of DentalAnthropologySchool of Dental MedicineUniversity of ZagrebGunduliÊeva 510000 Zagrebe-mail zvonimir.kaic@sfzg.hrTHE LIFE OF ST. APOLLONIA, VIRGIN ANDMARTYRI. LessonIn the town of Alexandria there lived a heathen man andwoman, very rich and aristocratic. They constantly prayedto their gods for the blessing of a son or daughter, as theydid not know to whom to leave their wealth. However, theywere unable to obtain this blessing. One day three followersof Christ came to the town as travellers and, forced byhunger, they begged for alms in the name of God. The threetravellers found themselves before the palace of this womanwho wished to have children, and when she heard thembegging for alms she asked them to come to her so that shecould ask them about their faith. They freely answered andsaid: “Our faith is in professing to be Christian servants ofJesus Christ, who is as one with the Holy Father for ever,and who was born of the immaculate Virgin Mary and who,because of our great sins, was crucified.The woman, on hearing their words sighed and said:“You truly speak strange things. But, tell me, can this Virgin,who gave birth to the Son of God, help my husband and Ito have a son or daughter, and to be content”. When the holypeople heard this they said: “Woman, we do not doubt thatthe Blessed Virgin Mary, who gave birth to the eternal wordremained a virgin. She can show you mercy, if, withreverence and trust, you hail her with a holy salutation. Beaware that her son esteems her more than all creation andthat she always prays for those who come to her forcomfort.”The woman then said: “You are devoted people, becauseyou talk so. Stay in my house and I will give you everythingyou need, and I will pray to the Virgin you speak of, and Iwill never cease to appeal to her, until I die”. She then beganto pray: “Oh, Virgin Mary, it you allow me to have a son ordaughter, I will do anything you command. And the VirginMary heard her as she is a very good advocate. After sometime the woman gave birth with great joy to a daughter. Thetownsfolk then discussed among themselves what name togive to her. However, the father, who was a heathen said:“Our god, who showed this mercy, is called Apollo, andthus it is right that she should be called Apollonia”. In spiteof this the mother fed her with the milk of the Catholic faithand told her that she was born by the grace of Mary, Motherof God.II LessonWhen Apollonia had grown up she began to pray toChrist to allow her to be christened. At that time an angelappeared to her, saying: “Go to St. Leoni, pupil of St. Antun,and he will christen you”. And she prayed and went to St.Leonin and after telling him all she begged for a holychristening. When St. Leonin perceived in this virgin somany good qualities, with the grace of God he christenedher. Later a second angel appeared before her in whiteclothes and covering her body said to her: “Virgin Apollonia,servant of Christ, now that you have been christened go toAlexandria and preach freely the Christian faith. When sheheard the holy voice she went at once to Alexandria andpreached the Catholic faith in the words of the Holy Spirit.At the time many who heard her preaching went to herfather and said: “Take care noble man, that the laws of theRoman Empire do not turn against you. Why does yourdaughter Apollonia not only preach against the Roman lawsbut also against our gods, by preaching of the crucifiedChrist?” When her father heard this he sent his servant tobring her to him. When the girl saw them coming in thedistance she realised what they wanted and kneeling downshe raised her eyes to the Heavenly Father and said:“Already the fianc( comes to the fianc(e. I see that servantsare coming to take me to heaven”. The servants came andbound her and took her to her father. When he saw hisdaughter so young (but old in wisdom) he said inwonderment: “By the order of our gods it is forbidden for adaughter to go anywhere without the consent of the father.You have broken the law and regulations and deserve to bepunished. Although you went on your own accord, it wouldhave been tolerated had you refrained from preaching of theA S C Acta Stomatol Croat, Vol. 34, br. 1, 2000.106crucified Christ and had not shown such madness. Therefore,you must renounce Jesus Christ and offer sacrifice to ourgods, otherwise you will be killed.” And the virgin spokegently to her father: “Father, if you had spoken those words withunderstanding I would not fear any danger. But tell me,father, how can one be alone as you say, if he follows thetruth. If my Lord Jesus is with me how can you say that Iam alone and that I do not obey God, nature, the law andyour orders. Know that the God of Gods said: ‘Whosoeverdoes not forsake his father, mother, brothers and sisters forHis love, is not worthy of Him’ and also promised to unitehis followers and said: ‘If you are in me then I shall be inyou’. Because, he who knows me shall not go into thedarkness but into the light of life’. Therefore, father I abideby the commandments of the true God, because they are thecommandments of salvation”.On hearing this the father ordered her to be thrown intothe dungeon. In the meantime one of the governors came -an enemy of God - called Dano. The sight of Christian bloodbeing shed always infuriated him. He was born inAlexandria where he allowed many bad things to occur.However, he could not tolerate those who believed in JesusChrist, and he tortured and killed them, of which he nevertired. Once a holy man was brought before him of greatvirtue and wisdom, by the name of Veteran. He said to him“Oh, Veteran, why do you revile the help of our gods? Is itnot difficult for you to be condemned alone. Imagine theharm, when because of your transgression and delusionmany will die. I have, therefore, decided to punish you foryour transgressions each time, and therefore you must revileJesus Christ and worship our gods.III LessonVeteran answered him, saying: “You are completelyinsane, because you conduct an insane court. Oh unhappyman, how foolish you are to command me again to denouncethe name of Christ the true god, who is the source ofsalvation and holiness. How can you command us to praisethe devils of hell. Because wherever you denounce Christ Ishall always praise him. May our lord always be blessedand may all nations of the Earth be blessed in him. JesusChrist was blessed, who was sent in the name of God”. Theheathen then commanded that he be lashed and torturedmercilessly, and his eyes gouged out. This was done andafter much torture Veteran was thrown out of the building,and as he was still alive they stoned him until he gave uphis spirit to God.Later a virgin of noble birth called Kojonta was broughtbefore him and when he saw her he said: Oh Kojonta, whatmadness possessed you to abandon our gods and worship theman who was crucified. Change your decision, be wise andworship our gods. Remember Veteran, may he be a lessonto you, and now join us in renouncing your Christ”. Sheanswered: “Be silent, servant of the devil, because I do takeVeteran as an example and I thank and praise my God forever”. Then in a courageous voice she said: “May your godsbe cursed and Jesus Christ blessed for ever”. The heathenthen ordered her legs to be tied and for her to be draggedthrough the town and tortured. When his appetite for bloodhad been satisfied he went to supper. After he had eaten hecontinued to threaten the Christians and said that he wouldcontinue to persecute them. One of the servants then said:“What use is Dano to our gods? True, he killed Veteran andKojonta, while we were won over by the virgin calledApollonia”. When Dano - the devil’s servant - heard this heasked whose daughter she was and the servant answered:“Her father is here”. The father then went and brought hisdaughter from the dungeon to the heathen. When she wasbrought before this terrible governor she did not know whathe wanted. Then the diabolic Dano began to talk with thehelp of the devil: “Oh virtuous girl, listen to me now, forgetsorcery, choose freedom, and have children in your ownimage.” The virgin answered softly, full of the Holy Spirit:“All mothers of this World live in fear every day, becausethey know that they have given birth to children but do notknow to what purpose their body and soul serve. She whoconceived by the love of Jesus fell from grace, for which weall eternally live in heaven.” When he heard these words hewas very angry and commanded that she be struck in themouth and her teeth broken mercilessly with a whip, andthus taken before their gods.When the townsfolk heard this they hurried to see theterrible torture. When she was brought before the heathenidols she spoke with a loud voice, saying: “Oh, peopledeceived and infatuated, how can you be so foolish toworship these idols. Listen to what I will say to this heathenstatue and mark well what will happen. Oh, you devil, livingin this idol, which these madmen worship, come out fromthis statue and shatter it in the name of our Lord Jesus, Sonof the true and everlasting God”. Apollonia then crossedherself with the holy cross and the devil broke out of thestatue, howling and with a great stench, and left saying “Thevirgin Apollonia threatens and troubles me”. When theheathen heard this he ordered her to be tied to a post and forall her teeth to be extracted. The virgin Apollonia then gaveup her heart to God saying: “My Lord Jesus Christ, for yourlove I have suffered great pain, and I therefore beg you tobe merciful to those who will talk of my pain”. Then a voiceanswered from the sky, saying: “Apollonia, what you haveasked will be granted”. The heathen Dano then ordered herto be burned at the stake and said to her “If you will notworship our gods and renounce your Jesus Christ, I willorder you to be thrown into this fire”. She answered with ajoyful face: “I happily lose today’s life to gain eternal life”.And so crossing herself she went into the fire and gave upher spirit to God to be eternally in heaven.This took place on the ninth day of February, 252 yearsafter the birth of Jesus Christ. At that time the Pope in Romewas St. Fabijan and Cesar Filip I. On the same day the holyChurch celebrate a great church festival. She is the patronsaint and physician for all those who seek her help when theysuffer from toothache. With the help of her prayers the LordGod shows mercy to all those who devoutly and faithfullypray.Lord have mercy upon us!Thanks be to God!

Posvećeno tristodvadesetpetoj obljetnici oltarne pale Svete Apolonije u akademskoj crkvi Svete Katarine u Zagrebu

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Hrčak - Portal of scientific journals of Croatia