RAB – SAN MARINO (S/S)

The founder of the Republic of San Marino, the patron of stonecutters and faulty accused people and the lasting connection between the island of Rab and San Marino – all that is St. Marino, a stonecutter from Rab, who lived in the 3^rd and 4^th century. The story about St. Marino is a combination of real history and myth. Marino was a stonecutter born in Lopar on the island of Rab and he remained remembered in history as the saint founder (Il santo fondatore) of the Republic of San Marino in 301. His day is celebrated on September, 3^rd, the day of his death, which is also state holiday in San Marino. San Marino is the oldest republic in Europe and the reason can probably be found in the legend that says that St. Marino before his death said to his followers: “Sons, I liberate you from any kind of reign, civil as well as ecclesiastical“.
 
In order to find out more about Marino we have to go back to the second half of the 3^rd century when Roman Empire was ruled jointly by Diocletian and Maximilian. At their order, numerous stonecutters and other workers from the eastern coast of the Adriatic were sent to Arminum (today's Rimini) to do the reconstruction work on city's walls. Among them were Marino and his friend Leon. According to legend, Marino preached Gospel with such enthusiasm that it provoked the wreath of the devil himself, who sent across the sea a Dalmatian woman who presented herself as Marino's abandoned wife. Marino sent her away and she took revenge by reporting him to city's magistrates as Christian teacher.  For the fact he is today considered the patron of faulty accused. Since at that time the prosecutions of Christians were taking place, Marino found a refuge in a cave on the hill Titano, where he was spending his time mainly in prayer. In the meantime he was ordained and became deacon and with help from his supporters built a small chapel that became a nucleus of the future town of San Marino. He died a natural death, and his relics are kept today in the basilica named after him.
 
The modern concept of town twinning implies connecting of two or more local communities by means of various activities. The twinning charter between the town of San Marino and the community of Rab was signed on 22 June 1968 and the tourist complex in Lopar is named San Marino, in dedication to the Rab’s twin town and the stonecutter Marino. This connection is further strengthened through exchanged visits and it is also worth mentioning that during the Homeland War the Republic of San Marino and its citizens were sending humanitarian aid to Croatia. In 1995 the Rab Crossbow Society was founded with the help in equipment and advice from Cerna lunghi archi and Federazione di balestrieri di San Marino. Among regular presentations of this society from Rab is also the participation in the celebration of the Independence Day in San Marino on September, 3^rd.
 
 
                                                                                                                      Marin Pintur