St. Francis of Assisi feast day celebrated in Croatia

Religious communities in Croatia celebrated the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4, marking the 800th anniversary of his passing.

In Metković, a solemn celebration was held at Kladi for the Parish of St. Elijah the Prophet. The service, led by Bishop Mladen Vukšić of Kotor, included a procession and the blessing of new liturgical items, including a chalice and altar. The event featured a performance by members of the Frame group and a nine-day spiritual preparation.

In Zadar, Archbishop Milan Zgrablić presided over a mass at the St. Francis monastery. He highlighted the historical significance of the site, which houses a parchment bull issued by Pope Gregory IX in 1228. This document, addressed to church leaders in Istria, Dalmatia, and Slavonia, officially recognized St. Francis for canonization and established his feast day. The Zadar monastery is noted as the oldest Franciscan monastery in Croatia.