04.05.2023
725th year of the Sibenik diocese
The Diocese of Sibenik celebrated its 725th anniversary on May 1.
It was founded by Pope Boniface VIII. and the existing church of St. James was chosen as the capital church:
According to the Pope’s order, Archbishop Henrik of Zadar and Bishop Petar of Split declared Sibenik a city and asked Prince Marin of Sibenik, the judges of the council and the people to provide material goods for the construction of the future capital church. For the maintenance of the Sibenik bishop and the cathedral church, the municipality allocated property and goods, (…), of which the cathedral will receive a fifth of the land fee, then a tenth of the crops and lambs from all lands, districts and villages, and a large house on the sea coast. For the maintenance of the Sibenik bishop and cathedral church two parts of the property in Ivinj, the island of Zlarin, the vineyards in Dubrava, the BabiC salt pans and half of all tithes are determined, while some properties and the other half of the tithes are assigned to the canons and chapter.
Sibenik Diplomatarium. Collection of Šibenik documents, (ed. Josip Kolanović), Šibenik 1986.
The first bishop was Fr. Martin from Rab, and certainly one of the most magnificent moments was the consecration of the new cathedral in 1555.
Today, the Diocese of Šibenik provides pastoral care for 74 parishes in nine deaneries.