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Rasa RAČIŪNAITĖ-PAUŽUOLIENĖ
Rasa RAČIŪNAITĖ-PAUŽUOLIENĖ
THE PHENOMENON OF SANCTITY OF BARBORA ŽAGARIETĖ (UMIASTAUSKAITĖ)
S u m m a r y
The article analyzes the sanctity’s phenomenon of the martyr chastity of the XVII century Barbora Žagarietė
(Umiastauskaitė). The work is based on the previous sources and field investigation materials gathered by the
group of scientists in 2006 in the districts of Šiauliai, Joniškis (Lithuania) and Duobele (Latvia).
The author presents the latest scholarly research on sanctity phenomenon of Barbora Žagarietė, weaving
together findings from field research in 2006 and interviews with respondents.
The oldest sources proclaim the miracles which were received by the intercession of Barbora Žagarietė
since XVIII century. The efforts throughout centuries to legalize the cult of Barbora Žagarietė as a saint by the
commons were not successful. By reason of long occupation the process of canonization is longstanding.
There is a national worship of Barbora personality till now. Barbora Žagarietė (Umiastauskaitė), representing
the Catholic culture of North Samogitia, is so called „Saint of Žagarė“, „the second Blessed Virgin Mary“,
„an invisible sister, which is appreciable“, as well as patroness, the witness of real Christian faith, guru of life,
and mediatrix between God and people. In summary, the cult of God servant Barbora Žagarietė is forming the
cultural identity of the locals.
Some factors testify the sanctity’s phenomenon of Barbora Žagarietė (Umiastauskaitė):
1) her virtues of piety, mercifulness and purity;
2) her non-decaying body, which was certified by physical examination in 1963;
3) the oldest sources contain the registrations about the miracles which were received by the intercession
of Barbora Žagarietė,
4) the blessings of Barbora Žagarietė, from which people obtain graces and recoveries today;
5) the cult of God’s servant Barbora Žagarietė is distributed by the common people.
PAGRINDINIAI ŽODŽIAI: Barbora Žagarietė (Umiastauskaitė), šventumas, stebuklai.
KEY WORDS: Barbora Žagarietė (Umiastauskaitė), the phenomenon of sanctity, miracles.
Rasa RAČIŪNAITĖ-PAUŽUOLIENĖ – humanitarinių mokslų daktarė, VDU Etnologijos ir folkloristikos katedros
docentė. Mokslinių tyrimų sritys: kultūrinė antropologija, lyčių studijos, kaunistika. Adresas: VDU, Donelaičio
g. 52, 205 kab. Kaunas; tel. 8 37 32 78 32. El. paštas: r.raciunaite@hmf.vdu.lt.
Rasa RAČIŪNAITĖ-PAUŽUOLIENĖ – Doctor of Humanities, assoc. professor of Vytautas Magnus University
(Department of Ethnology and Folklore). Investigation fields: cultural anthropology, gender studies, studies of
Kaunas culture. Address: Donelaičio 52, 205. Kaunas. Tel. +370 37 32 78 32. E-mail: r.raciunaite@hmf.vdu.lt.