The Dog of a Saint: The Animal Figure in Textual and Visual Narratives of Saint Roch

Abstract

The animal figure of the dog at Saint Roch’s side has been reflected in iconography, legend, and prayer. Depending on the type of narrative, the dog appears as the saint’s identifying attribute, an instrument in God’s hands, a symbol of rejection and downfall, or an embodiment of loyalty and mercy. It also contributes to the construction of Saint Roch’s “animal” patronage. The cultural texts cited in the article reflect the tension between the Church doctrine – subordinated to a theo- and anthropocentric perspective – and its social adaptation in images and narratives, where the dog acquires personality and spirituality. Despite – and, at the same time, due to – civilizational, cultural, and ideological changes that restore animals’ inherent subjectivity, the dog remains present in contemporary prayer and religious rituals, having carved out its place among other animals, once far more significant to human life, such as livestock.