Church and Monastery of St. Francis
In front of you is the church and monastery of St. Francis. The complex is named after the Franciscans who arrived in Šibenik in the 13th century, and the current building was built in the 14th century, with several additions and alterations over the centuries. But more important than the construction phases is the role the monastery played in the history of the city – and not only in a religious context.
The Monastery of St. Francis was one of the key places for the preservation of literacy and education in Šibenik. For centuries, manuscripts were copied, chronicles were kept and documents were kept in its premises. It was here that the oldest preserved document written in the Croatian language in Latin was found – the Šibenik Prayer from the 14th century. It is a short religious text, but its value lies in the language: it was written in the everyday Šibenik speech of that time, and not in Latin, which was the norm for official and church documents.
The monastery library was of a closed type, accessible only to clerics and educated members of the local elite. In the 18th century, it contained more than 300 manuscripts, including theological treatises, but also works on logic, astronomy and medicine. Part of this collection is now kept in the National and University Library in Zagreb, while part remained in the monastery.
The Franciscans who worked in Šibenik often found themselves caught between church obedience and local political interests. One of the most famous was Friar Lovro Bilić, who in the second half of the 18th century engaged in polemics with the Venetian authorities over attempts to tax the monastery. In a letter to the governor of Zadar from 1769, he stated that “everything we have serves for doctrine and prayer – and nothing for trade”. The dispute ended without formal taxation, but the monastery’s relationship with the authorities remained tense. During the French and later Austrian rule, the monastery was not abolished, but it was under strict supervision.
It suffered minor damage during World War II, and after the war it continued to operate as a church institution. Today it is active and open to visitors, and in addition to its religious contents, it also offers access to part of the library.
One of the more interesting stories related to the Monastery of St. Francis relates to an event from the 16th century, when the monastery was also the center of intellectual life in Šibenik. Namely, at that time, Franjo Ivić, one of the most important theologians and philosophers of that time, who influenced the religious and cultural development of the city, also stayed there. In his writings, Ivić discussed the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, which caused great controversy among the local population and church authorities. Interestingly, because of his works, which were controversial at the time, the monastery became a place of important theological discussions and conflicts.
The Church and Monastery of St. Francis are not a symbol of monumentality – but of permanence. Without great decorations, but with continuity of roles: spiritual, educational and archival.
The building you see today stands in the same place and has served the same purpose for more than 600 years – with the same stone threshold at the entrance.
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