Statue of st. John of Nepomuk in Divina

The statue of St. John of Nepomuk in Divina. is the National Cultural Monument of Slovakia. Divina is a village and municipality in Žilina District in the Žilina Region of northern Slovakia. In historical records the village was first mentioned in 1325. The Statue of St. John of Nepomuk is registered in the Central List of the Slovak Memorial Fund under the number 1334/2. It is a sandstone sculpture from 1796 standing on a stone base. The statue has a good artistic elaboration of the saint’s face and drapery. Interestingly, the saint does not have a traditional biretta on his head. The statue is a remembrance of the last male descendant of the Szunyogh family – John Nepomuk Szunyogh, who is credited with the construction of the Divina church and rectory. In Slovakia, there are only few preserved architectural and artistic monuments that belonged to the count branch of the Szunyog family of Budatín. In 1588, the branch was promoted to barons, later counts. The last male descendant was John Nepomuk Szunyogh, who died in 1798, leaving only one daughter Josephine. St. John of Nepomuk was his personal patron, to whom he had a special reverence. 

St. John of Nepomuk, Czech saint, died as a martyr. His tortured body was bound and thrown in the Vltava river. St. John of Nepomuk is one of the most frequently illustrated saints in the territory of the former Habsburg monarchy and there are monuments (mostly statues) of him in almost every village in Slovak and Czechia. His statues and other monuments are all over the world. The fact that we can find St. John of Nepomuk  also in less expected locations only confirms his universal respect. St. John is the patron of confessors, priests, sailors, rafters, millers and protector from drowning or tongue diseases. He is co-patron of the Czech Republic and Bavaria. Many churches and chapels have been consecrated to him in Central and Western Europe. St. John of Nepomuk churches and chapels can be found in Germany, Czechia, Poland, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia, Austria, Serbia, Lithuania and Hungary. His is also worshipped in Spain. Since 16 May 1758, St. John of Nepomuk has been the patron saint of the Spanish Marine Forces (Infantería de Marina). Outside Europe, there churches and chapels consecrated to him especially in Costa Rica, Colombia, Paraguay, Argentina, Philippines and the USA. Also names of many municipalities in Latin America were given in respect of him.

...
Wikipedia