The Church of St. Euphemia : Mystery, Legend and Faith

The Church of St. Euphemia in Rovinj is more than just a stunning landmark—it is a place where legend, faith, and mystery intertwine.

In the year 800, after a fierce storm, a mysterious white marble sarcophagus was found drifting in the waters near Rovinj. The townspeople, both fearful and awestruck, gathered at the shore, struggling to move the heavy tomb. Yet, despite their greatest efforts, it would not budge. Then, as if guided by an unseen hand, a young boy with two small calves stepped forward. With ease, he transported the sarcophagus up the hill, where it was finally opened.

What they discovered inside left them breathless. Lying within was the remarkably well-preserved body of St. Euphemia, a Christian martyr who had been tortured and executed under Emperor Diocletian in 303 AD. Though centuries had passed since her death, her body remained untouched by time—a miracle that was seen as a divine sign that she had found her rightful home in Rovinj.

1883 fresco by Leonardo Riga depicting the sarcophagus being carried into the town.

image source - www.inforovinj.com

To honor their newfound protector, the townspeople built a grand church on the hill, where her relics remain enshrined to this day.

 Rising above the church is its magnificent bell tower, inspired by St. Mark’s Campanile in Venice. At its peak stands a statue of St. Euphemia herself, not fixed in place but ever in motion. Acting as a weather vane, the statue gracefully turns with the wind, as if still watching over Rovinj, guiding its people just as she did when she first arrived on its shores.

With its rich history, breathtaking views, and an enduring sense of the miraculous, the Church of St. Euphemia remains one of Rovinj’s most treasured landmarks—a place where faith and legend whisper through the Adriatic breeze.

The arrival of the sarcophagus was seen as a divine sign, and Euphemia was venerated as the town's patron saint.