WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
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Since 2013, the Croatian cultural society "Sveti Jeronim" has been dealing with the preservation of the language, history, tradition, culture and customs of the Croats in the bar. The president of that association, Vladimir Marvučić, told Radio Montenegro that so far they have realized numerous projects and manifestations of special importance for the Croats from Bar, who are the indigenous people of the area. Marvučić reminds that once in the town under Rumija, the majority of the population was Croats, while today there are just over 300 of them.
"On the last list, there were a little more than 300 declared Croats, and it is assumed that there are even more, because when it comes to religious expression, a little over 3,300 of them declared that they are of the Roman Catholic faith, and it is assumed that a significant part of them are Croats." points out Marvučić.
Bar is also characteristic in that it is the last parish on the eastern Adriatic where the church service is held in the Croatian language, says Marvučić.
"In the neighboring parish of Ulcinj, the service is conducted in the Albanian language," adds Marvučić.
The fall under the Ottoman administration in the Middle Ages contributed to the reduced number of Croats in Bar, while today, Marvučić states, the causes are assimilation and emigration in search of a better life.
"They mostly go to Western Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia," says Marvučić.
There used to be over 40 Catholic churches and four monasteries in Bar, and it is also the seat of the oldest Catholic institution in the Balkans - the Archdiocese of Bar. A large number of churches were destroyed or turned into mosques during the time of the Ottomans. Today, Catholics and Orthodox have occasional disputes over the remains of older churches, emphasizes Marvučić.
"My humble opinion is that in situations where it is known that a building is older than the 11th century, there is no need to insist too much because we all know that the church was unique until then. Since our Muslims are mostly of local Catholic or Orthodox origin, it can be said that we all have a common origin, and then it could be said that these objects belong to all of us", emphasizes Marvučić.
In the area of Spič, there are still three two-altar churches with Catholic and Orthodox altars.
"There used to be more of them, and today three are in operation. These are the church of St. Petka, the church of St. Tekla and St. Rok," says Marvučić.
In the coming period, the priority of the Croatian cultural society "Sveti Jeronim" will remain the protection and affirmation of Croats in Bar and Montenegro, concluded Marvučić.
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