Saint Lawrence, patron saint of Valfontane

Located in the picturesque village of Valfontane in Istria, the church of St. Lawrence, or Crkva Sv Lovre as it is known in Croatian, is a beautiful example of religious architecture. There are many churches dedicated to St. Lawrence, but not much is really know about this saint.

Saint Lawrence, called St. Laurentius in Latin and Sv Lovro in Croatian, was a Roman deacon who, together with six others, was tasked with providing assistance to the poor and needy under Pope Sixtus II. During the persecution of Emperor Valerian in 258, all seven deacons were martyred for their faith.

When Pope Sixtus II was condemned to death, Lawrence followed him in tears, asking where he was going without his deacon. The Pope reassured Lawrence, telling him that he would follow him in three days. Filled with joy, Lawrence distributed the remaining funds he had to the poor and even sold precious vessels to give even more to those in need.

The Prefect of Rome, a greedy man, believed that the Church was hiding a vast fortune. He ordered Lawrence to bring the Church’s treasure to him within three days. Lawrence complied and gathered all the poor and sick supported by the Church, showing them to the Prefect and stating that this was the Church’s treasure.

Infuriated, the Prefect sentenced Lawrence to a slow and cruel death. The Saint was tied to an iron grill over a slow fire, roasting his flesh bit by bit. However, Lawrence’s love for God was so intense that he hardly felt the flames. In fact, he remained so strong and joyful that he even joked with the judge, asking to be turned over, saying, “I’m done on this side!”

Just before his death, Lawrence declared, “It’s cooked enough now,” and prayed for the conversion of Rome and for the spread of the Catholic faith worldwide. He then went on to receive his reward as a martyr.

Despite the brutal nature of his death, St. Lawrence is widely venerated for his unwavering faith and his willingness to endure suffering for the sake of his beliefs. In Istria, he is particularly beloved for his association with agriculture and the harvest, and many locals believe that invoking his name can bring good fortune and a bountiful crop. By association with his martydom, the saint is also concidered the patron of chefs and cooks.

The day of Saint Lawrence is August 10th. At this date Church of Sv Lovro in Valfontane is open. Make sure to use this opportunity to visit the church at St. Ana estate.