Franciscans, as more than centuries-old architects of that amazing small island in an even more amazing natural maritime zone, are returning to their island, after a little more than half a century of being forced to stay away. To our public, especially the well-meaning, we concisely introduce our cherished island. The beginning of permanent inhabitance of monks on Badija reaches into the tenth century, when the Saint Benedictine order on the island was established by the abbey («Abbatia» from which the name «Badija»). Subsequently, after the extinguishment of the Benedictine order upon request of the bishop of Korčula from Krk, in 1392 arriving on Badija are Franciscans of Bosnian vicary which Korčula’s Executive Council documented from May 3rd, 1394, grant the Franciscans a portion of the island for the construction of a monastery, and in the year 1398, the entire island.
From that time on Badija continues to be a spiritual and cultural center in the Korčula-Pelješac region. The construction of the monastery and church, Cloister - one of the most beautiful on the Croatian coast and the Holy Cross chapel, among other accompanying objects and numerous sacred works of art, of which the most well-known Gothic crucifixions, called Badija’s Holy Cross (for now located in the church Our Lady of Angel in the Franciscan monastery above Orebić), which was created by our famous sculptor Juraj Petrović in 1457. Franciscans, namely functioned on Badija as the clergy, hearing confession and delivering sermons, devoting to prayer and attending to business, engaged in deepening knowledge of theology, philosophy and the natural sciences, and individuals were distinguished in artistic talent and the writing of theological and spiritual documents. In Franciscan simplicity they attracted believers and distinguished people from the area, and from wider circles, especially in the area of the Republic of Dubrovnik.
In more recent times Badija has grown into a significant cultural center. Namely, in the year 1906, the provincial administration makes the decision to establish a private classical high school. The good work of the high school was recognized by the government of that period, so Badija’s private school, from the order of the ministry of sciences on December 1, 1924, grew into a classical high school with accreditation. That classical high school had professors who were Franciscans and lay people, all of who were highly educated people (for example, among them, Dr. Fr. Vjenceslav Bandera, Dr. Fr. Ante Matijević and Dr. Fr. Vid Mihičić, who were educated abroad), also the school operated on such an envious niveau that on Badija arrived students from all corners of the country, Yugoslavia, which existed at the time. From Badija’s pews later sprouted distinguished professors, doctors, lawyers, among them Dr. Ivo Padovan, who until recently was the president of Croatia’s Academy of Arts and Sciences. Many are still alive and many are from Korčula and Pelješac, and from other parts of the country that existed at the time, who gladly mention their days spent on Badija and the knowledge that they gained from the classical high school exemplary led by Franciscans.
The second world was brought an end to that kind of work by Badija’s Franciscans, and that in a brutal way. Upon resolution of the Presidency of the National Republic of Croatia, from December 12th, 1949, at the request of military authorities, an expropriation of the monastery and island took place for purposes of the country, in the monastery and on the island were located the JNA army, which stayed on Badija until 1958. Upon withdrawal of JNA Korčula’s county district gives over the monastery to sporting/athletic organizations of the Socialist Republic of Croatia, after 1985. HTP-Korčula, a hotel company, with this athletes further possessed an area for training and recreation. All these events occurred against the will of the monks, the real owners, who - for mention of an important fact - never wanted to accept an ordered compensation which was offered by the superiors at the time, especially the provincials Fr. Petar Vlasić and Fr. Berard Barčić, although they were almost forced to take. Such responsible and courageous behavior turned out to be crucial in the current settlement of lawful property rights procedures of returning Badija to its historical owners. The present-day democratic government of Croatia could not act otherwise.
It was tragic that the holders of Badija for 50 years - except for adaptations for hotel services on the first floor of the monastery - did not attend to the preservation of its highly valuable artistic heritage. On the contrary the most valuable objects had to be taken to different places, to monasteries or churches and put in monastery museums and libraries. The church and chapel of Holy Cross were transformed into a warehouse repository of the lowest nature. Significantly ruined or damaged or completely demolished altars, statues, wooden choir stalls, and other items, remain testament to the barbaric behavior towards more than centuries-old spiritually-artistic creativity, achieved by the diligence and love of generations of monks.
Now, Badija at long last, returns to its historical and moral owners. Already have began fundamental operations of restoration. Under the leadership of Fr. Josip Sopta, the Provincial vicar, along with the consent and supervision of the Institution for restoration of cultural monuments in Dubrovnik, first began a radical renewal of the church and chapel roofs and the cleaning of the interior objects, for which work a significant amount of money was given by Croatia’s ministry of culture, and our provincial community. At the same time was started the cleaning of accumulated garbage all over the island, the installment of a device for keeping the island safe from fires, the improvement of sanitary conditions for large buildings and all else. The provincial administration of Saint Jerome with its headquarters in Zadar, which the island falls under, with reference to the monastery on Badija, already many years-therefore, and even before the lawful property rights return of Badija to its historical owners - becomes responsive to planning the use of the monastery and island. The before mentioned administration already named the superior of the monastery, respectively the provincial delegate for leading overall concerns for renewal and giving meaning to Badija, Fr. Jaokim - Jaki Gregov, in addition to being an artist-sculptor. Badija, in this manner receives monks who with love and care, as throughout the centuries, return its spiritual, moral and cultural dignity.
taken from http://www.pujanke.hr/Badija/eng/
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