Medjugorje Guides make pilgrimage to Zadar, home of saint Simeon!

Yeasterday morning, we gathered in front of the church in Medjugorje. Our destination - Zadar- city at the Croatian Adriatic cost. One of the highligths was a visit to St. Simeon Church.
In the church of the same name, a gilded silver casket on the altar is raised on the outstretched arms of four bronze angels. It contains the remains of the popular saint-protector of the city Commissioned in 1381 by Elizabeth, wife of Croat-Hungarian King Ludwig I of Anjou, it's one of the finest examples of the work of Zadar's silversmiths, and inside and out shows in intricate detail scenes from the saint's life and the city's history.

Locals say that a merchant who was shipping the body of St Simeon from the Holy Land to Venice was caught in a storm, and sought shelter here. He fell ill, and before he died had the body buried, but told the nurses taking care of him that they would find something interesting in his documents. They found an inscription of the powers of the saint around his neck, and asked three local priests to dig up the grave that night. Not yet knowing the true nature of the occupant of the grave, visions appeared to them, and St Simeon has been revered in Zadar ever since. The silver casket of St. Simeon can be viewed daily and his remains will be shown to the public on his patron day, October the 8^th.
Of course, it was opened for us to see and pray for our intentions. We also were able to take some of the St. Simeon cotton - the relic placed in his mouth and latter packet in paper for the faithful to take ona carry with.

We also visitied The Permanent Collection of Sacral Art at Trg opatice Čike in St. Mary convent (ST. Benedict nuns)- Facinanting!

Program finished vit holy mass and Adoration in the church of Our Lady of Helth , one of the city's best-loved churches. It lies in the quiet old neighbourhood of Kampo Kaštelo. Built in 1703 on the site of two much older churches, it contains a copy of a famous painting “Our Lady of Kaštelo”, the original of which is now in the Permanent Exhibition of Religious Art (see The Silver and Gold of the City of Zadar, above).

I thank God and Our Lady for this day of joy, frendship and prayer!