A member of Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Mirko Tomasović was the most prolific literary translator from Romance languages in Croatia and distinguished expert in Latinist literature. He left us important studies on the written Croatian and Latin heritage of Marko Marulić (1450-1524), the most important Croatian Renaissance writer. His translations into Croatian include about 20 books of Italian, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Catalan and Occitan poetry, as well as epic and drama literature.
Category: History
University of Zadar to host Inaugural "May of Brešan" in 2018
Ivo Brešan (27 May 1936 – 3 January 2017) was a Croatian playwright, novelist, and screenwriter, known for political satire. From May 18-20, 2018 the University of Zadar will host the the inaugural “May of Brešan”, an international academic conference dedicated to examining Brešan’s works. Those wanting to participate in the conference have until December 1, 2017 to register.
Mike Vucelic 1931-2012 Apollo system manager for NASA and Rockwell in charge of 300 NASA engineers
Milojko Mike Vucelic, born in the town of Garešnica, Croatia, completed the Faculty of Machanical Engineering of the University of Zagreb in 1954. Since January 1962 he worked for Apollo, and subsequently he served as one of directors of the Apollo Program. The mission of Apollo 8 in 1968 was circulating around Moon’s orbit with the crew of three astronauts, and Mike Vucelic considers this to be his greatest success in professional life in the USA. During the Apollo 11 mission, he was at the control of the flight, just beside Gene Kranz, who served as the chief of the control. Due to this success in saving the Apollo 13 crew (Hello Houston… we have a problem), he was awarded by the Presidential Medal of Freedom by the then president of the USA.
AMCA Paris organized two lectures dedicated to Croatian Glagolitic Script in May 2017
Upon the invitation of AMCA Paris (a society of former students of Croatian Universities, living in Paris), Mauricij Frka Petešić and Darko Žubrinić had the honor to deliver a joint lecture entitled “Croatian Glagolitic culture and its European context” (May 4th 2017), with a special emphasis on Croatian-French relations. Two days later, D.Ž. had a short palaeographic course for children about Croatian Glagolitic, based on manuscripts written arround 1400 at Sorbonne in Paris by Georges d’Esclavonie (+1416), Croatian Glagolitic priest who entered into the history of French literature. On the photo are the lecturers with Mrs. Lamia Barbier Ruždić, president of AMCA Paris.
International conference in Biograd and Zadar on the phenomenon of glagolitic script in May 12-13th, 2017
Thirty three scientists from Croatia, Austria, Italy, Japan, Russia and Slovenia participated at the Conference. It has been superbly organized by the city of Biograd and the University of Zadar (which the oldest Croatian university, founded in 1396), as well as by Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Old Slavonic Insitute, Matrix Croatica Zadar. The Conference was held under auspices of the President of the Republic of Croatia. On the photo Dr. Keiko Mitani from Tokyo, one of the participants and contributors to the Conference. She speaks Croatian, and completed her PhD at the University of Zagreb, Croatia.
Marko Veselica 1936-2017 Croatian economist and politician passed away – article by Ante Glibota
Marko Veselica was distinguished Croatian economist and legendary human rights activist who spent 11 years in communist prisons in 1970s and 80s. We provide an article of his close colleague and friend Academician Ante Glibota, vicepresident of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts and Humanity in Paris , written in Croatian language. We also provide the titles of some of Veselica’s relevant books and studies.
1138 years since the international recognition of Croatia and 25 years since its diplomatic recognition
In the 9th century, more specifically, in 879 AD, Croatia obtained its first international recognition when Pope John VIII sent his letters to Croatian prince Branimir (on the photo is a monument from 9th ct bearing his name). Croatia never lost its state continuity, even when it was a part of other empires, kingdoms and states. For example, Croatian Deit is one of the oldest in Europe, and in this sense, Croatia is one of the oldest states in Europe. Its diplomatic recognition was realized in 1992. The Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Japan organized a nice celebration, in which Yoko Nishii participated with her pianist program that included Croatian and Japanese composers.
Jean Lunt Marinovic has published One Day in May – Bleiburg 1945
The author’s mission in ‘One Day in May – Bleiburg 1945’ is to provide an up-to-date narrative of events known as the ‘Bleiburg Tragedy’. Written in the English language, this 314 page book focuses on the negotiations at the Bleiburg castle, includes maps and photographs, and provides answers to important questions using numerous sources, including British, American and Croatian. The author, Jean Lunt Marinovic, is of British background, has published over 100 articles in the Croatian-Australian media and has been active in the Croatian community since the 1980s.
Zrinski's in Vienna with emphasis on Nikola Subic Zrinski of Siget + 1566
The defense of Siget by Nikola Šubić Zrinski (on the photo) in 1566 entered all the annals of European history in the 16th century. With his 2500 brave soldiers, mostly Croats, he was defending the fortress of Siget in southern Hungary against 90,000 Turks. Cardinal Richelieu, a famous French minister at the court of King Lui XIII, wrote the following: A miracle was necessary for the Habsburg Empire to survive. And the miracle happened in Sziget . Ivan Zajc has composed the opera Nikola Šubić Zrinski in 1876, which is very popular in Japan, especially its tune “U boj, u boj!”. Zrinski’s helmet and sward, kept in Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, have been shown in Croatia in the city of Čakovec in September 2016.
Josip Sersic author of important monograph about Croatians in Vienna – Kroatisches Wien / Hrvatski Bec
Josip Seršić, living in Vienna, prepared a monograph describing the presence of Croatians in Vienna, from the military history to literature, science and music. On the photo is Paula von Preradović, Croatian poetess and writer, author of the verses of Austrian national anthem. We list some of additional names: noble family of Zrinski’s, bishop Lepold Karl Kolonić, Ruđer Bošković, Nikola Toma Host, Nikola Tesla, Ivan Meštrović, Lovro von Matačić, Sena Jurinac, Clara Martinis, Emanuel Cenčić, Mirna Jukić and many other.
Vukovar 1991 – 2016 and music inspired by the destiny of the Baroque city on Danube river
Twenty five years have passed since the 1991 Vukovar tragedy. We provide several music expressions inspired by the events which marked Croatian contemporary history, as well as that of contemporary Europe. Among others, we provide music by Nenad Bach, Tomislav Ivčić (on the photo), Veritas aeterna, Dalmatino, Klapa Adriaticum, Buco, Miroslav Štivčić and others.
Hrvojka Mihanovic Salopek presenting Croatian Mariological Heritage of the Sisak Bishopric
Veneration of Mary, Mother of Mercy, in the city of Sisak near Croatia’s capital Zagreb is the ninth film in the series Digital Recording of the Croatian Mariological Heritage, under the auspices of the Committee for Education, Science and Culture of the Croatian Parliament and the Council for Culture of the Croatian Conference of Bishops. The project leader, scenarist and director is Hrvojka Mihanović-Salopek, Ph.D, who deserves our deep gratitude for her excellent work, as well as the producers, Alojzije Prosoli and Krešimir Renzo Prosoli. On the photo two angels from the Sisak bishopric.
Dr. Peter Frankopan Interview About: The Silk Roads – A New History of the World
Dr. Peter Frankopan (left) is Director of the Oxford Centre for Byzantine Research at the University of Oxford. His new book, The Silk Roads: New History of the World has become a best-seller and it’s being hailed all over the world as a literary masterpiece. It has already won history book of the year by several media and journalistic outlets. William Dalrymple of the Guardian writes that this book, “is history on a grand scale with a sweep and ambition that is rare” and “a remarkable book on many levels.”
Ante Gugo: In the Eyes of the STORM
Croatian war reporter’s, journalist’s and writer’s Ante Gugo’s best-selling non-fiction book in Croatia “Storm Which We Could Not Avoid” first released in 2015 in the Croatian language, twenty years after Croatia’s August 1995 swift and skillful Operation Storm liberated Krajina part of Croatia’s territory occupied and ethnically cleansed by Serb forces in early 1990’s, has now been translated into the English language and its title is “In the Eye of the Storm”. According to Dr. Slobodan Lang, “Storm” was humanitarian operation that prevented genocide. Congratulations on the occasion of Victory Day and the Day of Croatian Defenders on 5th August.
Sibe Mardesic 1927-2016 distinguished Croatian mathematician and Fellow of the AMS
Professor Sibe Mardešić: “I have been very devoted and faithful to Mathematics in Zagreb. I dedicated approximately equal shares of my time and energy to research, teaching and organization. I tried to transfer to Zagreb good things that I saw at other more developed places. I paid particular attention to teaching at the graduate level.” Professor Sibe Mardešić is a member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and a Fellow of the prestigious American Mathemacial Society. He had over 260 lectures at conferences and universities in 20 countries. Besides his native Croatian, he fluently spoke six languages. We provide an interesting interview with him conducted by Professor James Keesling, USA.
Dvigrad Festival 2016 offering a rich program of Renaissance and Early Baroque music
The Dvigrad Festival has been conceived by Alojzije Prosoli and his Musica Sacra / Sveta glazba society, along with numerous collaborators. This year, among distinguished soloists and players, the Festival will host Mario Penzar, Jelena Čilaš, Josue Melendez, Sarah Louise Ridy, Diego Leverić, Tin Cugelj, Martina Klarić, Augustin Mršić, Ema Stein, Ana Jembrek, Anna Waszak, Edmund Andler-Borić, Silvio Richter, Darko Solter, Responsorium ensemble, etc.
1137 years since the first international recognition of Croatia, more than 600 years before the discovery of America
The Croatian Prince Branimir, 9th century, made important steps in strengthening the relations with Rome. During the solemn divine service in St. Peter’s church in Rome in 879, Pope John VIII gave his blessing to the prince and the whole Croatian people, about which he informed Branimir in his letters, the first one dated on May 21, 879. This was the first time that the Croatian state was officially recognized (at that time the international legitimacy was given by the Pope), which, as we see, happened more than eleven centuries ago! On the photo is a stone monument from 9th century bearing the name of Croatian prince Branimir.
Nikola Tesla Croatian citizen advised the City Hall of Croatia's capital Zagreb in 1892 about electrification
In 1892, Nikola Tesla (1856-1943) has been invited by Milan Amruš, Mayor of the city of Zagreb, to visit the City Hall in order to give advice about future electrification. An interesting article from 1892 has been published in the Zagreb newspapers, which we provide for the first in English translation from Croatian original. We cite the following significant sentence from this 1892 article: Mr. Tesla considers it his duty, as a native son of this country [Croatia] , to assist the Zagreb City Council in this matter offering his advice and helping in every way he can . The country he meant here is without any doubt Croatia. As a Croatian citizen, Nikola Tesla possessed the passport issued in the city of Zagreb in 1883. On the photo Nikola Tesla in 1941 with Fritzie Zivich, known as the Croat Comet, the then welter-weight boxing world champion.
Pavo Jurisic published an important monograph about 50 years of pastoral care among Croats of Melbourne
The monograph And the hand of the Lord was with them / Celebrating 50 Years of Pastoral Care among Croats of Melbourne , written by Dr Pavo Jurišić, is dedicated to Croatian immigrants in Australia, especially those in Melbourne who lived their faith and represented their homeland, and to their fellow countrymen in Australia, their new homeland which accepted them and gave them shelter.
Dubrovnik celebrating 1044 years of the Feast of St Blaise in 2016
On the 3rd of February of 2016, the city of Dubrovnik celebrated the Feast of its protector, Sveti Vlaho (St. Blaise). The celebration is organized each year at this date for more than a thosand years, more specifically, for 1044 years. The Holy Mass was celebrated by the Sarajevo Cardinal Vinko Puljić, who was the official envoy of Pope Francis. Thirty archbishops and bishops concelebrated, among them Blaise Cupich, archbishop of Chicago (who is of Croatian origin), archbishop Kegham Katcherian, envoy of the Armenian Catholicos – upon the invitation of the Dubrovnik bishop Mate Uzinić, as well as around a hundred priests. We provide numerous photos of Croatians in traditional dresses, who attended the Feast of Sveti Vlaho.