Title Stebuklų sociologija: šventi atvaizdai /
Translation of Title Sociology of Miracles: Holy Images.
Authors Liutikas, Darius
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Is Part of Menotyra.. Lietuvos mokslų akademijos leidykla. 2022, 29, 1, p. 35-60.. ISSN 1392-1002. eISSN 2424-4708
Keywords [eng] miracles ; miraculous images ; sociology of miracles ; coronation of images ; religious souvenirs
Abstract [eng] The article analyses the social expressions of miraculous images. The focus is on the social interactions and functional interfaces of these images. The article also discusses the sociological concept of miracles, the tradition of crowning images, and the importance of religious souvenirs with copies of images. The author uses narratives and examples related to miraculous images in Lithuania. Miraculous and holy images are an important part of the social life of believers. In this article the image is analysed as a social actor. They help to create miracles, as well as various social connections and networks. They define daily and festive times and encourage commercial activities that ensure the spread of their power and influence. Their celebrations of honour and exaltation (e.g. coronation rites) become important social events, and their stories (biographies) become a field of research for historians and art critics. The person interacts with the social construct of the image, the representation he has created. Such a relationship with a miraculous image can last temporarily or permanently and manifests itself in reciprocal exchanges (requests, promises, and votive offerings versus miracles and graces). Religious souvenirs and devotionalias become spiritual and social mediators between the believer and the image, between the believer and the community. Socially empowered miraculous images manifest themselves in national culture and take root in the collective memory.
Published Lietuvos mokslų akademijos leidykla
Type Journal article
Language Lithuanian
Publication date 2022