The cult of St. Lucia, patroness of the eyes: some examples from Croatian ethnomedical tradition. On the occasion of the 1700th anniversary of her martyrdom

In the introductory part, the authors present several patrons/patronesses of the eyes and sight, as well as the protectors from eye diseases. In addition, presented is a short hagiography of St. Lucia, the most famous among the patrons of the eyes. The second part is dedicated to the cult of St. Lucia, which has existed among the Croats from the 10th century until present day. Testimonies to this are numerous churches, chapels, altars, paintings, sculptures, processions, pilgrimage, prayers, votive gifts, and many other forms of folk piety. By reviewing several characteristic examples from Istria and the region of Kvarner, the importance of this veneration is indicated, for general and religious tradition as well as for the history of medicine, especially the history of ethno-ophthalmology.