One of the most notable collections of relics in Croatia, but also in the World, is located in the town of Vodnjan in Istria, where the Church of St. Blaise (Sveti Blaž) houses the Vodnjan’s Reliquary...
The collection contains a total of 370 relics of 250 Christian saints, including St. Barbara, St. Sebastian, St. Mary of Egypt, St. Marcellinus and Peter, St. Leon Bemba, St. Ivan Olini, St. Nicolosa Bursa, St. Basil, St. Anthony the Abbot, St. Paul the Archbishop of Constantinople, and Blessed Miroslav Bulešić. This includes undecayed bodies, which represent a scientific phenomenon and miracle. These relics are sometimes called the Vodnjan mummies, but this term is incorrect because the bodies are not embalmed or hermetically sealed. The relics date from the time of the persecution of Christians, through the Middle Ages, and up to modern times. This unique treasure is located on the premises of the former sacristy and is the largest collection in Croatia and the second largest in Europe, after Rome.
Foto: Danilo Dragosavac
In addition, the collection in Vodnjan contains 730 sacral objects from the 4th to the 11th centuries. For example, there is a thorn from the crown of Jesus Christ, a canvas on which St. Simon held the baby Jesus, part of the veil of the Mother of God, certain of the bones and clothes of the apostles, and earth soaked in by the blood of Jesus. The church also features 10 altars, 24 paintings, and 18 sculptures. Every year, many of visitors and pilgrims visit this site.
-main.jpg)
Foto: Danilo Dragosavac
All these spiritual treasures arrived in Vodnjan after the end of Napoleon's reign, thanks to the artist and collector Gaetano Gresler, who saved them from destruction and loss. When the French entered Venice in 1810, in accordance with the proclaimed atheistic ideas of the French Revolution, the churches were thoroughly looted and then turned into warehouses or stables. The famous painter Gaetano Gresler happened to be in Venice at the time and hid the bodies of the saints, as well as many relics and reliquaries, in a safe place. When the French left in 1815, a delegation from the Istrian town of Vodnjan travelled to Venice to find an artist to come and decorate their devastated church. By chance, they met Gresler, who agreed to come to Vodnjan. He had placed all the collected relics in the Lezze di Misericordia palace of Countess Camilla Martinelli but was concerned about the fate of it in Venice. So, he decided to transfer them to Vodnjan on June 23, 1818. It was probably the most valuable cargo that ever sailed the Adriatic Sea.
Foto: HeritageCroatia
In the historical turmoil, this valuable Christian treasure remained hidden and preserved in the Istrian town of Vodnjan up today...and it is still there, waiting for you to visit Vodnjan and be inspired by it… (to be continued)
By: Zoran Rajn