Croatia has as many as 500 traditional Christmas carols, the oldest ones dating from the 12th century, and sung also today. This number is probably greater than in the case of any other nation in the Christian world. We provide several video recordings to illustrate this important religious and musical heritage of the Republic of Croatia, which was a source of inspiration for numerous composers. On the photo a Christmas detail from the wooden portal of Andrija Buvina in the Split Cathedral, dating from 1214, of 530 cm of height. This is a top monument of Croatian culture.
Category: Religion
St Paul the Apostle spent three months on Croatian island of Mljet
Saint Paul the Apostle had shipwreck on Croatian island of Mljet, and not on Malta. This is the subject of the monumental book written in elite Latin language by Ignjat Đurđević, published in Venice in 1730. Ignjat Đurđevic was Croatian Baroque writer from the city of Dubrovnik. The island of Mljet is not far from the city of Dubrovnik. In The Geography of distinguished Armenian scholar Ananias of Shirak, written between 592-636 AD, it is stated that Saint Paul stayed in Dalmatia following a shipwreck that happened on the Adriatic island of Melita (Mljet). We owe our deep gratitude to Dr. Miho Demović (on the photo), distinguished Croatian musicologist and historian of culture, to have unveiled many unknown facts concerning the shipwreck of St Paul the Apostle on the island of Mljet on the Adriatic sea.
Zdravko Basarić: Marija Husar Croatian singer and art director of Bonofest in Vukovar
Marija Husar is known as a singer of spiritual music and love songs and one of Croatia’s most famous singers. She is also Bonofest’s art director in the city of Vukovar. “It is incredibly important for us to show musical and spiritual quality…” she said. When Zdravko Basarić asked her why she chose spiritual music, she replied that the most supreme music is music dedicated to God and that, in general, the most beautiful art in human history is art dedicated to God. The article has been published by Wall Street International on 20 June, 2015.
Pope Francis in Sarajevo in 2015 meeting his old friend f. Petar Galauner, SJ Zagreb
Petar Nodilo, SJ Zagreb: We all were indeed happy to see how the Pope embraced our f. Petar Galauner, SJ, and how he was sincerely delighted to see him again. Our dear father Galauner, we wish you God’s blessing so that you spend many years to come with us, with your confreres and with numerous flock which loves you. Petar Galauner, SJ, is distinguished educator, living in Croatia’s capital Zagreb. His last encounter with Pope Francis was about thirty years ago. They first met in the Vatican in 1974.
Artur Bagdasarov and Vinicije Lupis promoting their joint book about Dubrovnik in Moscow on 14 June 2015
Dr. Artur Bagdasarov and Dr. Vinicije Lupis are promoting their joint book about Dubrovnik in Moscow. The book deals with Armenian and Croatian ties via St. Vlaho who is an Armenian saint and patron of the city of Dubrovnik. The presentation is organized by (R)am journal on 14 June 2015 at 19:00 at Pokrovka 27, str. 1, cultural center Pokrovskie vorota, m. Kitaj-gorod, Eistye prudy, Moscow. The admission is free.
1136 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!
Hrvojka Mihanovic Salopek and her Stella Maris Croatiae project
Hrvojka Mihanović Salopek, PhD, of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, is the director of important cultural project Stella Maris Croatiae , the aim of which is to present the most important examples of the veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Croatia, including noted Marian shrines and an anthological selection of Marian works from the theological, artistic and musical heritage. Dr. Mihanović Salopek and her team deserve our deep gratitude for her project and for their fantastic achievement, this time concentrated on the Southern Croatian islands and on Slavonian wheat fields.
Artur Bagdasarov and Vinicije Lupis creating a bridge of friendship between Armenia and Croatia
Artur Bagdasarov (Moscow) and Vinicije Lupis (Dubrovnik) are the authors of an important book Armenija – domovina sv. Vlaha (Armenia – Homeland of St Blaise), dealing with the history St. Blaise tradition in the city of Dubrovnik, going back to the 10th century. St. Blaise, known in Croatia as Sveti Vlaho, is an Armenian saint who lived in 3rd and 4th centuries. The monograph provides a detailed account of historical contactcts between Croatians and Armenians. Dr. Artur Bagdasarov is an expert in Croatian linguistics, while Dr. Vinicije Lupis is a distinguished Croatian historian.
Mirogoj Cemetery in Croatia's capital Zagreb through the lens of Nikola Piasevoli
Mirogoj is one of the most beautiful city cemeteries in Europe. It has been designed by Austrian architect Herman Bollé, starting from 1879 to 1929 when it was completed. Many famous Croatians are burried there. Furthermore, with its pleasant atmosphere and numerous high quality works of art, it is a nice place for rest and meditation. All the photos have been taken by Mr. Nikola Piasevoli from Zagreb. With this presentation we wish all the readers of the CROWN and their families a happy Easter.
Blase Joseph Cupich installed as Chicago's Archbishop on November 18, 2014
Archbishop Blase J. Cupich has been installed as the Ninth Archbishop of Chicago at an Installation Mass on November 18 2014, at Holy Name Cathedral, State and Superior Streets in Chicago. Cardinal George presided at the Monday evening Liturgy and Archbishop Cupich delivered the homily. Among the civic leaders welcoming Archbishop Cupich were Governor Patrick Quinn, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County Board President, Toni Preckwinkle. Also welcoming the new Archbishop was Dr. Jelena Grčič Polić, the Consulate General of the Republic of Croatia.
Bunjevci Croats from Backa and their Christmas traditions expressed in straw and cakes
Straw work is a unique naive art form which originates from the rich folk art of the Bunjevci-Croats settled in the north of Bačka. In Tavankut, a village near the town Subotica, the self-taught women nourish and preserve this naive art skill by entwining beads and making paintings out of straw which portray specific motifs and themes from the life of the Bunjevci-Croats. Also, delicious and richly ornamented Christmas cakes called božičnjak are prepared. On the photo Christmas cake by Dubravka Vrbljanac. With this article we wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Pope Frances appoints bishop Blase J. Cupich Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago
His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed the Bishop of Spokane, Washington, Most Reverend Blase J. Cupich, as the ninth Archbishop of Chicago, the Vatican announced in September 2014. Archbishop Cupich will be installed as Archbishop of Chicago on November 18, 2014, at Holy Name Cathedral. Archbishop Cupich was born on in 1949 in Omaha, Nebraska, to Blase and Mary (Mayhan) Cupich. He is one of nine children, five sisters and three brothers. Archbishop Cupich has Croatia roots.
Choir of Matrix Croatica for the region of Ruhr in Germany singing Ave regina caelorum by Dufay
The Choir of Matrix Croatica for the region of Ruhr in Germany has been founded in 2006 by Professor Krešimir Veselić, distinguished Croatian mathematician. We can listen to the beautiful interpretation of Ave regina caelorum by Guillaume Dufay, a famous composer from the 15th century. The choir is also called the Mixed Choir of Croatian Catholic Mission in Dortmund in Germany, since both institutions support its activity. Professor Veselić is singing with Magdalena Mlikotić and Meri Mlikotić.
Memorial plaque to three Croatians from the 17th century in the Garden of Gethsemane in Jerusalem
On March, 29 2014 the Garden of Gethsemane in Jerusalem was filled with pilgrims from Croatia. The reason for this great gathering was the ceremony of putting up a memorial plaque to the Croatians, brothers Pavao, Antun and Jakov in this biblical place on the slopes of the Mount of Olives where Jesus prayed the night before his crucifixion. In 1681 these knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem bought the Garden of Gethsemane and donated it to the Custody of the Holy Land. On the photo Cardinal Vinko Puljić, the Sarajevo Archbishop, who unveiled the memorial plaque.
Ljubo Krasic director of Croatian Ethnic Institute in Chicago, USA
The Franciscans established the Croatian Ethnic Institute in 1975, with headquarters in Chicago, for the purpose of preserving and promoting the Croatian heritage in the United States and Canada. This foundation was established with one far-sighted goal, namely, that all which is valuable and in any way related to the Croatians could be found in one place and used for various kinds of research. An additional goal of the Institute was to promote Croatian history, culture, literature, and heritage. The current director of the Croatian Ethnic Institute is fra Ljubo Krasić.
Happy Easter – Sretan Uskrs 2014 through art of Jozo Kljakovic
Wishing a Happy Easter to all readers of the CROWN, we touch a part of the work of art of distinguished Croatian painter Jozo Kljaković (1889-1969). In Zagreb there is a Memorial Museum of Jozo Kljaković, dedicated to his life and work. He is well known for his frescos in the Pontifical Croatian St. Jerome Institute in Rome and in the church of St. Mark in Zagreb.
Dr Peter Kuzmic authority on Christian response to Marxism and on Christian ministry in post-Communist contexts
Dr. Peter Kuzmic is the foremost evangelical scholar in Eastern Europe and is considered an authority on the subject of Christian response to Marxism and on Christian ministry in post-Communist contexts. He co-founded and directs Evangelical Theological Seminary in Osijek, Croatia, the first evangelical theological school in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. He also founded Timisoara Theological Institute, a Romanian school affiliated with ETS.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2014 to all the people of good will
Marry Christmas and a Happy New Year to the readers of the CROWN from Croatian painter Zdenka Sertić, on the photo. Croats have about five hundred Christmas carols, more than any other nation in the world. One of truly famous works of art, related to Christams, is due to Croatian sculptor Andrija Buvina from the 13th century, carved on monumental wooden doors of the Cathedral of St. Dujam in the city of Split. We also send a special Christmas greeting to Mr. Dario Kordić and Mr. Slobodan Praljak and their families.
Frok Zefi Catholic priest, historian and publicist in Croatia
Besides his regular duties in his parish, Don Frok Zefi (on the photo) is very active as a historian and publicist. Till now he has published about a dozen of books and monographs, most of them in Zagreb and Osijek, and some of them printed in Albanian as well. No doubt, the greatest Albanian in history was legenedary Mother Teresa, educated as a girl by Croatian Jesuits. The greatest expert in the history of Albanians was distinguished Croatian scientist and polyglot Milan pl. Šufflay (1879-1931).
Queen of Croatians Chapel on the mount of Medvednica near Zagreb celebrates 80th birthday
In 2013 the Chapel of Mother Mary of Sljeme near Zagreb, also known as the Queen of Croatians, solemnly celebrated 80 years since it has been built. The Holy Mass was served in September 2013 by cardinal Josip Bozanić, the Zagreb Archbishop. In October 2013 an interesting mass has been served by F. Josip Rožmarić, SJ, and by Rev. Oleh Hirnyk, Greek-Catholic priest from the city of Lviv, Ukraine; see the photo.