Vrboska Celebrates 400 Years of the 'Crying Cross'

The year is 1614.

Over in Hvar Town, the oldest public theatre in Europe has been open just two years. It is exactly 100 years since the end of the Great Rebellion under Matej Ivanic in Vrboska and Vrbanj.

Vrboska and Vrbanj are once more the centre of attention on the island. The source of the tension revolves around religious differences between two communities, one of whom is grouped around the Church of St Mary and the other the Church of St Lawrence. One parish wants to continue under the control of Vrbanj, the other was for independence for Vrboska. The conflict of the two camps is threatening to destroy the community.

Young Katarina, the daughter of seaman Petar Ordinanovic notices tears coming from a small cross.
The tears were interpreted as an appeal for unity. The legacy of the Crying Cross of Vrboska has been an annual procession on the first Friday in March, and this year's procession will mark the 400th anniversary of Katarina's vision.

In order to mark the occasion, Vrboska will have a special programme from March 6-9 (see below in Croatian), and it represents a unique opportunity to take part in a landmark religious tradition.

To learn more (in Croatian), Slobodna Dalmacija journalist Mirko Crncevic recently featured a 91 year-old Vrboska resident and her recollections of the processions of the past. Click here.

ČETVRTAK:
otvaranje zavjetne svetkovine
17:30 Sv. MISA

PETAK:
10:30 RECITIRANA Sv. MISA
17:30 KONCELEBRIRANA Sv. MISA
koju predvodi
hvarsko-bračko-viški biskup
msgr. Slobodan Štambuk

SUBOTA:
znanstveni skup
18:30 u crkvi Sv. Lovre
"POVIJEST ŽUPE VRBOSKA"
Tema: Postanak i urbanistički razvitak Vrboske
dr.sc. Ambroz Tudor, Ministarstvo kulture, uprava za zaštitu kulturne baštine
Tema: Povijest župe
prof. Joško Bracanović, Hvar
Tema: Umjetnička oprema crkava u Vrboskoj
akademik Radoslav Tomić
Tema: Župna crkva sv. Lovre u Vrboskoj
dr. Darka Bilić, Institut za povijest umjetnosti
Tema: Tradicija štovanja Čudotvornog
sv. Križa
don Ivica Huljev, Vrboska

NEDJELJA
Završno slavlje
10:30 KONCELEBRIRANA Sv. MISA
koju predvodi splitsko-makarski nadbiskup i metropolit msgr. Marin Barišić
Nakon mise:
svečana procesija sa zavjetnim Križem po mjestu
Završetak slavlja u župnoj crkvi