Glagolitic script

in Cultural heritage in Nin by ZNxqkycQVD

Glagolitic script in Nin

The Bishop of Nin, one of the most prominent bishops of Nin was a strong advocate of the old folk alphabet, glagolitic and the old Slavonic language. The oldest literary and historical monuments of this region were written in glagolitic script which was obvious evidence of ancient culture and the awereness of national identity and patriotism.

The historian Kerubin Šegvić wrote about this in 1925: „Among the cultural advantages which the Croatian people can take pride in is the fact that they have their own national script. Every nation upon being baptised and entering Christianity would immediately receive the Holy Books translated into their language along with the clergy who used it.

When they were made Christian and gave a written promise to the Roman Pope to be at peace with the surrounding nations, the Croats were supposed to get, and got, holy liturgical books, their own clergy and their own Bishop of Nin in the 9th – 10th century. Glagolitic is the script in which our oldest literary and historical monuments were written. The Croats proudly point their finger to these monuments which are evidence of their ancient culture and resistant strength.“

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The Baptismal Font of Duke Višeslav

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The Baptismal Font of Duke Višeslav in Nin

The Baptismal Font of Duke Višeslav the first Croatian Duke who reigned around 800 is one of the most important monuments of church furnishing. This hexagonal stone vessel is witness to the time when Croats were Christianised, and during the Christianisation worshippers were baptised in it.

The replica, can be found in the Museum of Nin Antiquities while the original is kept in the Museum of Croatian Archeological Monuments in Split.

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The Church of Saint Ambrose

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The Church of Saint Ambrose in Nin

The Church of St Ambrose from the 13th century is a beautiful single-nave church with Romanesque-Gothic characteristics. It is located near the Upper City Gate where once the Benedictine Monastery of St Ambrose stood, whose original construction was mentioned as early as 941. The church got its present-day look when it was renovated in 1992.
The front side of the Church has characteristics of Romanesque architecture with a single entrance portal. Above the portal there is an opening in the form of a cross and above it a narrow Romanesque window.

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The Church of Saint Anselm

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The Church of Saint Anselm in Nin

The parish Church of St Anselm located in the centre of Nin, was the Nin cathedral during the rule of Croatian Kings and later. It was built in the 6th century and restored during the reign of King Zvonimir in 1070 and through history suffered damage several times and assumed its present-day appearance in the 18th century.

On one side of the Bell Tower the lateral chapel of St Marcela called „Our Lady of Zečevo“ leans against the church; the church is from the 15th century and contains the statue of Our Lady with the Divine Child in her arms. The chapel also contains Renaissance work, a tombstone of the Nin Bishop, Juraj Divnić. In 1646, before the Venetian attack, the statue was transferred to Zadar and ten years later returned again to the lateral chapel of the Nin church, where it can be found today. The Mother of God, who is worshipped here as Our Lady of Zečevo is especially celebrated in Nin and this church is its main annual holy place, in the Zadar diocese even today.

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The Church of Saint Nicholas

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The Church of Saint Nicholas in Nin

A recognisable symbol of Nin is the Church of St Nicholas, located in the field of Prahulje, it is very important for the rulers of the Croatian dynasty and for the history of Croatia and Nin.

According to tradition, seven Kings were crowned in Nin, and every crowned ruler rode on horseback to the Chruch of Saint Nicholas, and it was in fact here that he would be presented to the people by the same symbolic ritual-on that mound he would cut with a sword the four corners of the world.

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Days of the Patrons of Nin, Saint Marcela and Saint Anselmo

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Days of the Patrons of Nin, Saint Marcela and Saint Anselmo in Nin

To pass through turbulent historical periods, to preserve faith and freedom and contribute to them, to live in an area so rich with the gifts of Nature and Man and to persevere – would it be possible at all without luck, wisdom and sincere advocates?! The residents of Nin, and everyone who is acquainted with the exceptional values of Nin, knows that it must be a gift of providence and the Patrons of Nin.

If you come to Nin on the 25th-26th August you can celebrate the unique Church festivals, the days of the Patrons of Nin, St Marcela and St Anselmo to whom the parish church, the former Cathedral (6th-18th century) is dedicated.
According to tradition, St Anselmo was one of Christ’s 72 disciples who came to Nin and its surroundings to preach and spread Christianity.

Tradition also has it, that Marcela from Luke’s Gospel was a housewife in the house of Marta, Maria and Lazarus and in the apostolic announcement she helped the Bishop Anselmo and Dean Ambrose in Nin.

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Festival of the Sun and Light in the Church of the Holy Cross

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Festival of the Sun and Light in the Church of the Holy Cross in Nin

What secrets, extraordinary to our mind, still imponderable ideas and ways of realisation are hidden in the Church of the Holy Cross? And in what way does the playing of the sun, light and shadow unmistakably, like a calendar or a sundial tell us about the season, month and even the hour?
 
The first Festival of the Sun and Light was a unique event held in the Church of the Holy Cross on the first day of summer 2009, the International Year of Astronomy. At the right time, in the right place!
 
This event –unique, just as this Church called ‘the smallest Cathedral in the world’ – is based on the evaluation of the astronomic and the architectural importance of the Church of the Holy Cross, a Pre-Romanesque building with a ground plan in the shape of a cross and a dome having special characteristics.
 
Namely each side of the church has an oval opening and its construction and position in relation to the position of the Sun throughout the year –as explained by the scientist Mladen Pejaković – depends on the winter and summer solstice; spring and fall equinox and it was made in order to serve as a sundial and a calendar.
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Nin’s šokolijada (Šokol festival)

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Nin’s šokolijada (Šokol festival) in Nin

Would you like to try „šokol“, the unique speciality of Nin, and see how it is prepared? Although it can be found in nearly all restaurants in this area, to be present at Nin’s Šokol Festival means far more.

Namely, from 2003 this unique competition has been held which attracts a large number of „šokol“ experts in July, but also many locals and visitors who enjoy the event, the smells and tastes. However, the whole story actually starts at the very beginning of the year when the meat for the preparation is distributed to the registered competitors, and ends in July when the best „šokol“ makers are chosen.

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