Sv. Vlaho i sv. Ivan krstitelj

Gazing up at Sv. Vlaho i sv. Ivan krstitelj, imagine the sheer panic that gripped Dubrovnik in 971. Venetian ships, ostensibly seeking supplies, filled the harbor. Their true intentions, however, were far more sinister. They planned to seize the city. Sv. Vlaho i sv. Ivan Krstitelj stands as a testament to the city’s resilience and the enduring power of faith. Dubrovnik’s patron saint, St. Blaise, appeared to a local priest, Stojko, warning him of the impending Venetian attack. Stojko alerted the city’s defenders, who repelled the invaders. From that moment on, St. Blaise became Dubrovnik’s protector, his image gracing flags, buildings, and churches. The church of Sv. Vlaho i sv. Ivan krstitelj is a baroque masterpiece built in 1715 by Marino Gropelli. It replaced a Romanesque church that had been destroyed in a fire in 1706. The silver statue of St. Blaise within the church miraculously survived the fire. He holds a model of the old Romanesque church, a poignant reminder of the city’s history. Each year, Dubrovnik celebrates Festa Sv. Vlaha, a UNESCO-protected festival honoring St. Blaise. The festival dates back to 972 and features processions, prayers, and traditional festivities. It is a vibrant expression of Dubrovnik’s enduring devotion to its patron saint. This church, then, is not merely a building. It’s a symbol of Dubrovnik’s spirit, its resilience, and its unwavering faith in St. Blaise, the protector who saved the city from a watery grave.