Žitomislić Monastery: Monks Martyred in 1941, Canonized in 2005
The Žitomislić monastery, founded in the 15th century on the left bank of the Neretva near Mostar, has been burned, looted, and demolished multiple times but rebuilt each time. In late June 1941, during the Independent State of Croatia, the monks were summoned to a local office on the pretext of registration, then arrested, tortured, bound with wire, and taken to Blizanci where they were killed and thrown into the Neretva.
The victims included Iguman Konstantin Vučurović, aged 26, hieromonks Dositej, Vukićević, and Makarije, a chanter, young novices and theology students, and Protopresbyter Vladimir Čejović from Mostar, who refused an offer to leave. Their remains could not be properly buried for decades under communist rule; they were exhumed in late 1990 and buried in a marble tomb by the altar in 1991.
The monastery was mined and the tomb destroyed again in 1992. The Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church canonized the monks as holy priest-martyrs in 2005, with their feast day on June 26. Part of their relics are now kept in the rebuilt monastery. A palm tree in the monastery courtyard, damaged when the bell tower fell on it during the 1992 destruction, continues to grow.
Key moments
- 0:05 The monastery was founded in the 15th century, burned, looted, and demolished, but rebuilt thanks to the faith and labor of people who preserved its heritage.
- 0:40 Behind its walls lies a story of spirituality, suffering, and perseverance of the Serbian Orthodox people in Herzegovina, where monks endured severe suffering and remained faithful to Christ when it was hardest.
- 1:22 In late June 1941, during the Independent State of Croatia, the monks were invited to a local office under the pretext of registration, arrested, tortured, bound with wire, and taken to the village of Blizanci.
- 1:22 All were killed and their bodies thrown into the Neretva; the victims included Iguman Konstantin Vučurović, aged 26, hieromonks Dositej, Vukićević, and Makarije, a chanter, young novices and theology students, and Protopresbyter Vladimir Čejović from Mostar, who refused an offer to leave.
- 1:58 Their bones could not be properly buried for decades because of the communists; the remains were exhumed in late 1990 and buried in 1991 in a marble tomb near the altar of the monastery church.
- 1:58 The monastery was mined and destroyed again in 1992, and the martyrs' tomb was also destroyed, but by God's will and with the help of the faithful people, Žitomislić was rebuilt again.
- 2:28 The Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church canonized them in 2005 as holy priest-martyrs of Žitomislić, and their feast day is celebrated on June 26.
- 2:28 Today part of the relics of the martyred monks is kept in the rebuilt monastery, and standing before this shrine one sees not only rebuilt walls but a place that preserves the memory of faith, sacrifice, and people who are not forgotten.