St George's Church in Sućuraj – The Patron Saint After Whom the Village is Named
The parish church of St George is one of the most significant landmarks in Sućuraj, not only as the main church of the village but also because St George gave his name to Sućuraj. An older church dedicated to this saint existed centuries before the current building, and its foundations can still be seen in the churchyard.
The present church was constructed in 1897 in the Neo-Romanesque style, after the old medieval church was demolished due to its dilapidated state at the end of the 19th century. The new structure was erected right next to the site of the old church and today, along with the nearby monastery, forms one of the most valuable historical complexes in Sućuraj.
At first glance, it appears to be a harmonious, relatively simple island church, but the interior conceals several details that make it particularly interesting – altars transferred from the older church, a statue of St George slaying the dragon, and a stone commemorative plaque from 1655 inscribed in Bosančica.
Sućuraj is Named After St George
The connection between Sućuraj and St George predates the current church by many centuries.
In the churchyard, the remains of the foundations of the older church can be found, and local historical tradition places the beginnings of the sacred complex as far back as the early Middle Ages. In the 13th century, the church of St George was built, which is explicitly mentioned in the Statute of Hvar from 1331.
It was from this church that the name of the village originated. The old form "Sut Juraj", a name associated with St George, gradually evolved into the present Sućuraj.
Thus, St George is not merely one of the saints to whom the local church is dedicated – he is a protector so deeply connected to the village that his name remains in the very name of Sućuraj.
The Current Church from 1897
The old church served the residents for centuries, but by the end of the 19th century, it had deteriorated to such an extent that a decision was made to build a new one.
The current parish church was completed in 1897, during a period when Sućuraj was modernising under Austro-Hungarian rule and acquiring a number of new public buildings.
It was built in the Neo-Romanesque style, with a floor plan shaped like a cross. The main entrance faces south, while above the façade rises a bell tower with three bells.
Although not monumental in size, it fits very well into the old core of the village and the surrounding stone architecture.
The Foundations of the Old Church are Still Visible
One of the most interesting details is actually located outside the current building.
In the courtyard in front of the church, the foundations of the old St George's Church, mentioned as early as 1331, can be seen, which was demolished during the construction of the current church.
This allows visitors to see two different phases of Sućuraj's history in the same place – the more modern parish church from the 19th century and the traces of a much older sacred space.
Next to the church is a historic monastery complex, whose history dates back deep into the Middle Ages. The entire area is therefore worth observing as a single historical entity, rather than just as an individual church building.
The Main Altar and St George with the Dragon
The main altar is dedicated to St George, the patron saint of Sućuraj.
It features a statue depicting the most famous motif associated with the saint – St George slaying the dragon.
This motif is repeated in a large round painting on the church ceiling and on the church banner. Because of this, the figure of St George visually dominates the interior and constantly reminds of the connection between the protector and the village.
This connection is also encapsulated in the traditional message on the church banner, which calls upon St George to protect Sućuraj.
The Altar of Our Lady of Health
The western altar is dedicated to Our Lady of Health.
Her statue is traditionally taken out of the church on her feast day and carried in procession through Sućuraj. The procession passes through Gornja and Donja Banda, two historic parts of the village, thus linking the religious tradition directly with the space of old Sućuraj.
Such processions are not only events for visitors but also a way in which centuries-old local tradition is still maintained.
The Altar of Our Lady of the Belt from the Old Church
The eastern altar is dedicated to Our Lady of the Belt and is particularly interesting as it was transferred from the old St George's Church.
This means that part of the interior of the older church has been preserved and incorporated into the 1897 building.
Thus, the church is not a completely new structure that replaced the old building, but a place where certain elements of the older sacred space continue to exist within the new church.
A Commemorative Plaque in Bosančica from 1655
One of the most valuable historical details in the church is the stone commemorative plaque from 1655, inscribed in Bosančica, or Croatian Cyrillic.
It was placed by Duke Petar Kulušić in honour of the Bishop of Makarska Fra Bartul Kačić Žarković.
The bishop resided in Sućuraj during the 17th century as the Makarska coast was then under Ottoman rule. Sućuraj was on the edge of Venetian territory and played an important role as a safe refuge for the local population and clergy arriving from the mainland.
The plaque is therefore much more than a decorative inscription – it is a small but very concrete trace of the time when Sućuraj was situated at the border of different political and cultural worlds.
The Church and the Old Monastery
Next to the church is a historic monastery, one of the oldest preserved buildings in Sućuraj.
Local tradition places its beginnings very early, and it is known for certain that it was restored in 1309, as confirmed by an inscription on the building.
For centuries, the monastery and church were the centre of religious life in the village. Today, their stone complex, along with the remains of the old church in the courtyard, forms one of the places where one can best understand how much older the history of Sućuraj is than the current waterfront, ferry port, and tourist settlement.
Location in Gornja Banda
The church is located in the old part of Sućuraj known as Gornja Banda, just a few minutes' walk from the waterfront and the village centre.
It can be reached via narrow local streets among stone houses, making it best to combine the visit with a stroll through the old town.
In this relatively small area, one can see St George's Church, the old monastery, the remains of the old church, Fortica, St Anthony's Church, and other traces of the village's centuries-old history.
Visiting the Interior
St George's Church is an active parish church, not a museum with all-day tourist access.
Therefore, one should not assume that the interior will always be open. The safest opportunity to enter is before or after mass, during religious events, or when the church is open during the day.
If the doors are closed, it is still worthwhile to visit the courtyard, view the foundations of the old church, and appreciate the entire historical complex from the outside.
Parking and Access
Due to its location within the old town, there is no need to attempt to drive directly to the church.
Sućuraj is small, and the church is easily accessible on foot from the centre. If arriving by car from another part of Hvar, it is more practical to leave the vehicle in a public parking area in the wider vicinity of the centre and continue on foot.
This approach also allows for an opportunity to explore the old part of the village, which could easily be missed when passing by by car.
Useful Information
Location: Gornja Banda, Sućuraj
Type of building: parish church
Dedication: St George, patron saint of Sućuraj
Current church: built in 1897
Style: Neo-Romanesque
Floor plan: in the shape of a cross
Bell tower: belfry with three bells
Old church: mentioned in the Statute of Hvar in 1331
Remains of the old church: visible in the courtyard
Notable features: statue of St George with the dragon, altar of Our Lady of Health, altar of Our Lady of the Belt, and a commemorative plaque in Bosančica from 1655.
Connection to the name of the village: Sućuraj is named after St George
Access: best on foot from the centre
Parking: public spaces in the wider area of the centre
St. George's Church / Comments
Looks like you are not signed in!
How would you like to proceed?
Anonymous comment
Login
Register
Your comment was submitted successfully and it will be published after approval by administrator!
General Conditions of Publiciation
General terms and conditions and notes
1. Web page
Web page www.holiday-link.com is an interactive web page where the visitors can put texts, news, photos and video movies regarding the content about tourism, gastronomy, culture and entertainment. Information can be uploaded by the owners, managers, employees, tourist boards, residents and tourists, basically all those who want to introduce the public to the specific content (facilities). The site allows evaluation of the attractiveness of a specific content and it allows writing comments by other visitors. Visitors, who log in and want to publish an information about some content (facility) or promote some tourist service, become users or suppliers and they agree to the general terms and conditions that are stipulated here and are obliged to act in accordance with the general terms and conditions (general conditions do not apply if a person is only visiting the page). A person can become a user by signing up with a user name and a password. The user agrees to put the accurate access data, name and surname and the address. Contents that users publish will be signed with a nickname they choose, while the personal data will be used in accordance with the privacy statement. Persons under the age of thirteen are not allowed to enter any content. General terms can be changed from time to time and if the user or supplier doesn’t agree with the changed general terms and conditions he can remove his content from the site.
2. Content
The page is not the media that publishes editorial program contents but the page where the visitors publish information that serve for the educational and cultural public informing about the touristic, cultural and gastronomic contents (facilities). The goal of the site is to collect the information that will give the tourists, as well as the locals, the insight into touristic, cultural and gastronomic offer of the certain location (city, region and country). Publishing the information about the content (information on facilities) is completely free of charge. Except the touristic content , on these pages, providers of various services in tourism may publish and advertise services they offer. These are, further in the text, referred to as a suppliers. Users and suppliers are solely responsible for the publication of their contents in accordance with the statement of responsibility.
3. User obligations
Each user is obliged to use the website in accordance with the general terms and conditions. By publishing the certain text, comment, photo or video movie on the site, the user guarantees that the published information are true, and that they are not copyrighted by a third party. Each user is morally and materially responsible for the publication of content. It is forbidden to copy texts from other websites. Administrators review entered contents and approve them for publishing. Holiday-Link.com has the right not to show the content it finds inappropriate, untrue or offensive. The owners, managers or employees of the gastronomic facilities (eg. restaurants) have the right to reply to the articles and comments on their own content. The owners have the right to request the removal of the text regarding their facilities if they find it inappropriate. The complaint can be send to complain@holiday-link.com. By publishing the content, the user is giving the exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual transferable, irrevocable and fully sublicensable licence (copyright) to use, reproduce modify, adapt, translate, distribute, publish and publicly display subscribed content to the Holiday-Link.com and its affiliates.
4. The obligations of suppliers of tourist services (accommodation and other services)
Company Holiday-Link.com Ltd acts as advertising website on this website and not as a tour operator or intermediary travel agency. Suppliers of tourist services who register their capacity on this site, pay the commercial advertising model they choose. Interaction, regarding arranging a specific accommodation or other tourist service, is done directly between supplier and visitor. Visitors arrange the accommodation or some other touristic service directly with the suppliers and pay the arranged service to them. Suppliers are responsible for all entered data, images, prices and more. Suppliers guarantee that they have all licences necessary to carry out the services they offer, and to operate in accordance with the laws of their home country. By purchasing certain service, visitor accepts the terms and conditions of a supplier from whom he purchased the service. Holiday-Link will check each supplier before putting its facilities to be visible on the page.
5. Statement of Responsibility
The information, that users and suppliers are entering, can be wrong. Holiday-Link.com does not check the entry of the information, pictures and movies and cannot guarantee their accuracy and it disclaims any responsibility for any incorrect data. If you notice a certain misstatement, inaccuracy or inadequacy in any content, please contact us by e-mail: complain@holiday-link.com The responsibility, for every information about some content, is on the user who entered the information. Suppliers, who advertise touristic services via this website, act as independent entrepreneurs. They enter the data about their services , as well as the pictures and the prices, on their own. Holiday-Link.com does not check entered data and disclaims responsibility regarding the errors that can occur during the entering. Suppliers have to own all the licences regarding the services they offer, and they have to respect the laws and regulations of the home country. Visitor arranges the specific service directly with the supplier, on the basis of data that is entered by a supplier as independent entrepreneur, and he pays it directly to the supplier. Therefore, Holiday-Link.com disclaims responsibility for any problem related to the certain reservation.
6. Privacy Policy
When logging into the website, users and suppliers have to enter some personal data (name and surname, e-mail, address, phone number, etc.). Holiday-Link.com guarantees that this data will be kept secret and will not be forwarded to the third parties. Holiday-Link.com can use an user and a supplier e-mail for sending necessarry informaion and for advertising.
7. Cookie Policy
Cookies are small text files that can be stored into device of a visitor if it is allowed by a web browser. Holiday-Link.com uses cookies to provide a better user experience on the website for the visitors. Also, while visiting Holiday-Link.com, you can automatically collect a certain data.
8. Court Jurisdiction
In case of any dispute, related to the site holiday-link.com, the court in Split and the Croatian law are competent.