LARGEST CHURCH BELL IN CROATIA IS ON THE PARISH CHURCH OF SAINT EUSEBIUS AND POLCARP IN VINKOVCI

Vinkovci church bells toll again

“The Croatian state helped the most in restoring the church, but I also received a lot of help from the diaspora. If there was not any help from the Croatian diaspora, it would have been difficult. I definitely must emphasise the assistance from Croatian Catholic missions, especially in Germany, and the Dusper family from Zagreb.”

“Insofar as the costs of reconstruction really are great, any assistance is welcome. Considering that the church has up until now been reconstructed thanks to the will and goodness of people, I believe that many of them will not turn their backs this time either.”

Residents of Vinkovci are proud of their bells, and why wouldn’t they be considering that they are the largest in the diocese, while the fourth bell, dedicated to Croatian soldiers, is the largest in Croatia. It tolls in honour of them – mentioned parish priest Tadija Pranjic, emphasising that the bells are the destiny of human life and that they follow us from our birth until our death.

Zelka Lesic

          Travelling through the endless planes of Slavonia, a person is stunned by the beauty of the scenery and would never have thought that bloody battles were fought in that peaceful region during the Independence War. The numerous rubble and traces on the roads are mute witnesses that provide a warning about the horror that this region and its residents have undergone. Considering that the Chetniks and the notorious JNA (Yugoslav Peoples Army) especially targeted Catholic churches, the parish church of Saint Eusebius and Polcarp drew special attention. The large damage inflicted upon the main parish church in Vinkovci is still visible, but the information concerning its restoration brings joy. Residents of Vinkovci are especially happy about the bells that have been erected. After the reconstruction of the tower and the erection of three church bells, the most official act ensued – blessing and erecting the fourth and largest bell, which is dedicated to Croatian soldiers. The Djakovo-Srijem bishop monsignor Marin Srakic on the Christ’s our King holiday, after which it was lifted on the reconstructed tower of Saint Eusebius and Polonium parish church, blessed the bell.
          “November 20 was chosen in order to reinstate the joy and soul to this town,” said Tadija Pranjic, parish priest and dean in Vinkovci.
          On that same day eight year ago, following an onslaught of shelling downtown, the parish church in Vinkovci was in flames and the tower was destroyed.
          “That was a night, as it was written by all world media, when Vinkovci was in flames and in tears,” stated the parish priest Pranjic, emphasising that on the same night the notorious JNA and Chetniks entered the hospital in Vukovar, taking away the wounded and killing them in the most brutal manner. That date is actually symbolic in many ways, and that is why it was chosen as the date to erect the bells, which on that day eight years ago went quiet,” said the priest.

Vinkovci in tears again, but this time with joy
          When the bells tolled again on November 21, following eight years, it was a moment of joy and excitement for all residents of Vinkovci. “Vinkovci and I shed tears again on that day, but this time they were tears of joy,” said Tadija Pranjic, dean of the Vinkovci deanery. He mentioned that amidst the excitement he was lost for words when welcoming the bishop.
          “At that moment all the events of the Independence War appeared before my eyes, considering that I was a witness to everything that happened in the area. There was so much emotion in my soul that I did not know how to begin the welcoming speech. Namely, to see the church and parish quarters being destroyed before your eyes, and to now witness the joy of the bells tolling again, is something that cannot be expressed enough with words,” stated sincerely parish priest Pranjic, who during the entire duration of the war remained with the people and soldiers to help them spiritually. “That was the most difficult and nicest part of my priesthood calling, because I witnessed the tragedy of my people, but also the sincerity of people that defended truth and justice, and that is our homeland,” said the parish priest.
          Residents of Vinkovci are proud of their bells, and why wouldn’t they be considering that they are the largest in the diocese, while the fourth bell, dedicated to Croatian soldiers, is the largest in Croatia. Now, when there are big church or state celebrations, the church bells will toll and invite people to be good, to love and forgive. They particularly joyously tolled on Christmas Eve, inviting residents to the midnight mass to celebrate the birth of the Saviour. However, the bells in Vinkovci tolled with considerable sadness on the day of the burial of President Franjo Tudjman.
          The bells were made in Innsbruck, the best and most renowned foundry in the world. The first bell is dedicated to Saint Eusebius and Polonium, the patron saints of the church, the second to Saint John, who was the co-patron saint of the parish, the third to the patron of the Croatian people the Holy Mother, while the fourth, as it was already stated, is dedicated to Croatian soldiers who gave their lives for the country during the Independence War.
          “When they toll, they will be a special reminder of all those that gave their lives for our homeland Croatia. They toll in honour of them,” mentioned parish priest Tadija Pranjic, emphasising that the bells are actually the destiny of human life and that they follow us from our birth until our death.
          All four bells weigh five tons, while the biggest, the fourth, weighs two and a half tons. They cost DEM 100 000, which was raised thanks to the goodness of people in Croatia and people that live abroad. 

More than DEM two million worth of damage inflicted upon the church
          The restoration of the church commenced once military operations died down, when donations began arriving.
          “The Croatian state helped the most in restoring the church, but I also received a lot of help from the diaspora. If there was not any help from the Croatian diaspora, it would have been difficult. I definitely must emphasise the assistance from Croatian Catholic missions, especially in Germany, and the Dusper family from Zagreb. I also must mention the help from companies and banks in Vinkovci, which helped despite the destroyed economy. Especially touching was the help given by residents of Vinkovci, who by way of donations also became involved in the restoration, even though they had their own destroyed homes to reconstruct. I am deeply grateful to everybody because even the smallest amount of assistance is welcome by God,” stated the parish priest.
          Talking about the costs of restoration, it must be said that the State Commission assessed the damages to the burnt parish office, destroyed bell tower, destroyed roof of the church and the destroyed religious classrooms to be worth DEM 2 147 000. That huge amount depicts the extent to which that sacral object was destroyed. The further restoration of the church will ensue in the spring, when the restoration of the church interior and installation of the stain-glassed windows on the five huge church windows will begin. Insofar as the costs of reconstruction really are large, any assistance is welcome. Considering that the church has up until now been reconstructed thanks to the will and goodness of people, I believe that many of them will not turn their backs this time either.

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