MARIN -
STONECUTTER FROM LOPAR |
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 Rab's main claim to fame is a stonecutter called Marin. He settled in Italy and Founded the state of San Marino.
More than 17 centuries ago a little Marin was born in Lopar. While growing up into a mature person he was trained to be a stonemason. In order to find job he went to another side of the Adriatic Sea, to the coast of the Apennine peninsula, near the today's town Rimini. Because he was diligent and virtuous the Christian community there became very fond of him so that he became a deacon to the bishop Gaudientium. He was persecuted because of his Christian sermons and he fled to the hill Titan that was very hard to access. There he built a small church, which soon became a gathering place for all that found their new home and laws in it. These were the foundations on which the today's city and the state of San Marino were erected. There are also the saint's mortal remains. |
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St. Christopher Legend |
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According to an legend, a major calamity faced the people of Rab after the death of king Petar Kresimir IV. Sicilian Normans besieged the town on April 14th, 1075. Helpless in front of the superior and well-armed invaders, the townspeople involved the help of their patron saint,
St. Christopher, by solemnly exposing his head on the town bulwarks. On the May 9 the Normans sailed away and the town was miraculously saved. That day was celebrated for quite a long time.
Today we celebrate May 9 with traditional Mediaval Knight Games! |
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MARCUS ANTONIUS DE DOMINIS |
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Marcus Antonius de Dominis , well-known writer of ecclesiastical treatises and physicist, was born here in 1560. Having completed his studies in Padua, he became professor of mathematics, logic, rhetoric and philosophy, then bishop of Senj and archbishop of Split. His major contribution, however, is to be found in the sphere of natural science. His most important works include the study on the spectrum, printed in Venice with the original title «De radiis visus et lucis in vitris perspectiveis et in irride», and his studies in which he was first to prove the influence of the moon on the tides.
 His criticism and treatise on the reform of the church led to conflicts with the pope, and he had to flee Venice. He returned there during the pope Gregory XV, but was imprisoned after latter's death, and died in prison. At a posthumously held trial Dominis was proclaimed a heretic and publicly burned at the stake, with his writings, in the Capo del fiore in Rome.
Photo: Dominis Palace in Town Rab)
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Draga, The Shepherdess of Rab |
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In ancient time the young Kalifront guarded the sheep of his father who was a friend of Barbat's the lord of the eastern part of the island, the present day Barbat.
Barbat had a daughter, Draga, whom he had unfortunately let among the shepherds as she had come of age. Kalifront fell madly in love with the girl, and as he was increasingly devoured by passion, he succumbed to his foolish desire. The girl vigorously resisted, warning kalifront that her mother to the goddess Diana had vowed her chastity.
At the end, Draga fed, but Kalifront followed her. He caught up with her in front of the Loparksa Jamina cave where Draga implored Diana for help.
 The goddess granted her plea and turned Draga into a stone statue. The gods punished Kalifront who was not able to find peace until the source in the cave dried out, and was to be feeding on wild fruits and planting the forest all his life. As the forest grew, he increasingly grew a fleece, thus resembling more a beast than a man, until he finally became like his forest.
Thus was the forest named after him - Kalifront.
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