Saint Domnius – “the face of Split's heart” and a celebration in his honour – Sudamja

More than two decades ago, I have been in Split with a dear friend of mine from the university. It was Sunday and my friend, like any person originated from Split, took me to the mass at St. Domnius cathedral or as they say from the heart – “kod svetog Duje”

The cathedral officially named the parish church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built precisely because of the devotion of the people of Split to St. Domnius. Due to the fact of the presence of his relics in the church, it is also called the church of Saint Duje. I do not remember the liturgical readings or the sermon that accompanied them, but I do remember the magnificent feeling of veneration that this small but still enormous church caused in me. Cathedral. Church of St. Domnius seems to have welcomed all the believers into its wing. And they all fit in there. I don't know how, it's not big in dimension. But, in spirit...

Foto: Tourist Board of Split

Bishop, martyr and the saint, St. Domnius lived at the time of the greatest persecution of Christians, during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, at the end of the third and the beginning of the 4th century A.D. And then, an unexpected historical development resulted in a phenomenon: precisely the mausoleum of one of the greatest persecutors of Christians, in which the relics of the Salona’s martyr bishop St. Domnius are kept, became the oldest cathedral in the world in the middle of the 7th century. Namely, it is considered that the building itself was created between 295 and 305 A.D. and the fact that it was declared cathedral at that time gives it the epithet of the world's oldest cathedral in general.

Foto: Tourist Board of Split

It is enriched with exceptional works of art, starting with the carved entrance doors and the six-sided pulpit from the 13th century, the altars of Saint Domnius and Saint Anastasius the Fuller and the main altar from the 17th century, choir seats from the 13th century to the gold objects of the cathedral treasury. The distinctive feature of the cathedral, as well as of the entire Split, is the 60-meter-high bell tower. The bell tower is open for tours, which not only gives you a view of the beautiful building, but also the city that surrounds it. The surroundings of the cathedral, the complex of Diocletian's Palace and the Peristyle, are the open stage of the life of the city of Split. Any day chosen for a tour of Split is actually a holiday. However, one still stands out. Sudamja.

Foto: Tourist Board of Split

There is strong confidence in the protection and leadership of the patron saint of the city of Split and the Archdiocese of Split – Makarska region, and the people of Split nurture and feed those feelings with their worship and celebration. The feast in St. Domnius honour has been solemnly celebrated since the Middle Ages, and for centuries, it has been known in Split under the name 'Sudamja'. It is part of the identity of the city of Split, and the dedication of its people to this old feast grew over the centuries, so today, in addition to the religious, it also has a touristic – attractive dimension. Sudamja is a religious and first-class cultural-tourism event, an opportunity for the visitor to become a part of the city, from a guest to a friend, from an observer to a participant and from a passer-by to a loyal visitor. If you want to sensate the definition of an experience – let us go to Sudamja.

Foto: Tourist Board of Split

The feast of St. Domnius is celebrated on the 7th of May, but the reverence to the patron saint of Split is celebrated over a longer period of time, usually starting from the end of March and ending in the middle of May. During this time, a big number of religious, cultural, sports, economic and entertainment programs is held, the organization of which includes all generations of Split’s residents, and the contents are intended for all generations of numerous visitors. In addition, the celebration is not concentrated on the Diocletian's Palace only, but passes through all parts of the city, and its contents include both the land and the sea.

Foto: Tourist Board of Split

The most solemn part of the festival starting with the novena of St. Domnius. Masses, sermons and spiritual music concerts are held daily in the cathedral during nine days of the novena. The time of the novena of St. Domnius is a unique opportunity for a full experience of the celebration of a Split's cathedral, but also of developing your own spirituality. Novena ends on the 7th of May whit a traditional procession from the cathedral of St. Domnius to the altar on the city's Riva. The apostolic administrator of the Split-Makarska archdiocese usually leads the solemn mass celebration.

Foto: Tourist Board of Split

Now let us go back to the beginning. Indeed, there are people, places, moments and facts that are stored in the treasury of our life and remain there. I believe that this journey to the centre of our remembrances does not happen through mere memory. It happens because a person feels that he/she has come to a place crowned with sincerity. That is why I have not forget that Sunday mass, nor have I satisfy my desire to return to the same place, to that solemn moment. There are many wonderful places of Croatian cultural and natural heritage. One of such magnificent ones is the cathedral in the city of Split, and Sudamja is a heritage worthy of a full respect. Do not let the bell tower that you see from far away remain just a recognizable sight of Split, let it be your personal, sincere emotion and a memory and you are welcome each May to the holy feast of Sudamja!