Saint Nicholas Church

Saint Nicholas Church stands as a modest stone structure featuring traditional Orthodox architecture with a bell tower that was added in 1801 and a mid-19th century iconostasis displaying sacred icons.

Built in 1618 on land donated by Croatian župan Gostiha of Cetina, this church represents the oldest religious building in Vrlika and has survived multiple arson attempts during both World Wars and the Yugoslav conflicts.

The church maintains the ancient Easter tradition of Čuvari Hristovog Groba, believed to have been brought from Jerusalem in the 16th century, where community members ceremonially guard Christ's grave during Holy Week.

Religious services are held regularly with special celebrations on Saint Nicholas Day on December 6th, and the church underwent extensive renovations in 2015 funded by donations from the global Serbian Orthodox community.

This church celebrated its 400th anniversary in August 2018 with a gathering of Serbian Orthodox faithful from around the world, making it one of the few religious sites to reach such a milestone in this region.

Location: Vrlika

GPS coordinates: 43.81417,16.48528

Latest update: July 25, 2025 20:18