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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Kult św. Rocha w Dobrzeniu Wielkim jako reakcja na epidemie XVII-XIX w. (na przykładzie Opolszczyzny)

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For nearly four centuries, the cult of St. Roch in Dobrzeń Wielki has been nurtured. In 1658, a church was built there as a token of gratitude that the prayers of the faithful had been heard and the plague had stopped. Peoples responses to the epidemics which they had experienced varied widely. They were treated as misfortunes accompanying natural disasters, which resulted in poverty and hunger. They were also a consequence ofman-made wars. Their frequent occurrence was influenced by poor hygienic conditions in which they used to live. Doctors did not also have much experience in combating infectious diseases. They were often treated as a divine punishment for sins. Therefore, efforts were made to plead with God through the intercession ofpatrons who protected postponement ofthe epidemic. The aim ofthe article is to show how the cult of St. Roch in Dobrzeń Wielki developed, what was the role of this saint in the life of the local people in the past and what role he plays today. Therefore, the very person of St. Roch, the history ofthe creation of the church dedicated to him, and artistic representations of the same saint in the church and the square in front of it have been remembered. The full picture also includes liturgical and non-liturgical forms of worship of St. Roch which are used in Dobrzeń Wielki along with the worshipers’ experiences drawn from the epidemic.