Lutsu 5 houses
Lutsu 3 houses
Jaani 6 houses
Who Was St Anthony?
Saint Anthony the Great, Lord of Pigs, Desert Star, The Father of All Monks, was born to wealthy parents in Koma, Mid-Egypt, around 250. He accepted Christianity and lived a pious life, giving up all pleasures of life. When he was 20 years old, he lost his parents and became the caregiver for his little sisters. Half a year later he handed out his wealth, gave his sisters to a shelter and left for the desert to live as hermit in a cave, praying and fighting demonic temptations for 20 years. After that he returned to worldly life. In 311 he preached to the imprisoned and convicts of Alexandria, despite of governmental ban. Then he returned to the desert with Bedouins, established a private monastery with his students and performed miracles. In his old age, he travelled to Upper-Thebes, were he died in complete loneliness in 105 years of age. According to folk tales, Saint Anthony protected against fire, plague, skin and infections diseases, which is why he was the traditional saint of the medieval alms-houses and hospitals. In addition to that he was also the patron of domestic animals, especially pigs, protecting them from pestilences.
Saint Anthony’s day, 7th of January, was the time to bless the sties and to ask Saint Anthony for protection.
The attributes of Anthony include a pig, a bell, a burning flame either on his hand or neck, a crutch or a thick cane and a so-called St. Anthony's Cross.
Pig was there to remind the people that Saint Anthony was the patron saint of animals.
Bell, either in Anthony’s hand or on pig’s neck was the traditional symbol of hermits, who used it to dispel evil spirits.
Flame symbolised Saint Anthony’s struggles against fire and demons.
Crutch signified that he was the patron saint of poor and sick people.
St. Anthony's Cross was T-shaped cross of Egyptian origin that symbolised life and was supposed to protect its wearers from the plague. Anthonites wore a light blue cross on black background.