CROATIAN NAZARETH
Croatians are a warm and hospitable people, open to conversation and closeness with others, while remaining deeply attached to their history, traditions, and faith. They proudly preserve the memory of the past, value freedom, and honor the experiences of difficult times—especially periods of war that have left a lasting mark on their national identity. Croatians are deeply religious; faith plays an important role in their lives, and spiritual traditions, religious holidays, and pilgrimages are a natural part of everyday life. They are hardworking, yet they also know how to enjoy life—this is evident in the joy of gathering for shared meals, local celebrations, or simple daily meetings over coffee. They love their land—the mountains, the coastline, and the islands—and gladly share their culture, spirituality, and the beauty of their country with visitors. Their ability to unite memory of the past with hope for the future makes them a people full of kindness, strength, and remarkable warmth.
In September 2025, we arrived in Rijeka, Croatia—four Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth—to study the language and become familiar with the local culture. To our great surprise and joy, we discovered that we had come to a place where the Croatian “Nazareth” rises—the hill of Trsat. This discovery became a powerful confirmation for us that God is guiding us along His path and that our presence here is not by chance. Trsat, rich in history and spiritual significance, has become for us a symbol of prayer, daily work, and God’s closeness in human life. The Croatian “Nazareth” reminds us that tradition and spirituality can harmoniously blend with new experiences and challenges, giving our mission in Rijeka a special and profound meaning.
Trsat is an urban neighborhood in the eastern part of Rijeka, situated on a hill 135 meters above sea level. From this vantage point, one can admire panoramic views of Rijeka and the Kvarner Bay, stretching all the way to the islands of Krk and Cres. Trsat, also known as the Croatian “Nazareth,” is the oldest and most renowned Marian shrine in western Croatia. It was here, in 1291, that the Holy House of Nazareth—the home of the Holy Family—miraculously appeared, according to tradition brought by angels.
The apparition took place at dawn on May 10, 1291, when a group of woodcutters discovered three walls of a small house they had never seen before on that hill. The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to the seriously ill pastor, Fr. Aleksandar Jurjević, and miraculously healed him, confirming that it was her home. Count Nikola Frankopan of Krk sent a delegation to Palestine to verify the event. It was found that the foundations of the Holy House in Nazareth exactly matched the dimensions of the house that had miraculously appeared on Trsat.
The Holy House disappeared in 1294, only to reappear in 1296 in Loreto, where it still stands today at the center of the sanctuary. On Trsat, Count Frankopan built a chapel, which was later expanded into a church and monastery. Franciscan friars—the Order of Friars Minor—settled there and have served as guardians of the sanctuary for over five centuries.
Trsat is not only history. It is a place of spiritual strength where, every year, pilgrims from Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, and Austria come to pray and ask for the intercession of Our Lady of Trsat. Pope John Paul II visited the shrine on June 8, 2003, and his statue—depicting him kneeling before the altar—can today be seen in the square in front of the church. In a special chapel, numerous votive offerings are preserved, bearing witness to the faithful’s gratitude for deliverance from shipwrecks and for many healings.
Trsat – the Croatian “Nazareth” – is a place where history meets spirituality and tradition blends with everyday life. For us, Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, it is a sign of God’s guidance, an inspiration for work and prayer, and a spiritual point of reference in our mission in Rijeka.
Beginning our mission here, on Trsat—the Croatian “Nazareth”—we feel deep gratitude and peace of heart. For us, Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, Nazareth is a symbol of everyday life lived close to God—in prayer, work, and simple living. Therefore, discovering that our journey begins precisely in a place called the Croatian “Nazareth” we recognize as a special sign of God’s guidance. We feel that we are in the place where God has brought us.
We kindly ask for your prayers for our community—especially during this time of learning the language, getting to know the local culture, and preparing for our future mission.
The community from Croatia
