Zagreb: Three-day commemoration of the 950th anniversary of King Zvonimir's coronation concludes
From October 6th to 8th, the Croatian Royal Council association organized a commemoration in the Croatian capital, Zagreb, marking the 950th anniversary of King Zvonimir’s coronation and the 1050th anniversary of the death of Queen Jelena "the Great". The commemoration began with Holy Mass at the Church of St. Blaise in Zagreb.
The first day of the commemoration opened with a liturgy at the Church of St. Blaise in Zagreb, with the Holy Mass celebrated by Rev. Anđelko Katanec. In his homily, he emphasized the important role of a king modeled after Christ, as well as the need to remember the close bond between the faith and our people. He recalled how Mary and Martha had welcomed the Christ the King of Kings into their home. He also highlighted the significance of King Zvonimir for Croatian identity and culture, as well as our ties to the Holy See.
The highlight of the celebration took place on October 8th, the anniversary of the coronation itselfwhen. The CRC led members and guests on a special tour of Zagreb focused on Zvonimir and his legacy, guided by historian and art historian Ante Brešić pl. Mikulić. Visitors stopped at Zagreb Cathedral, an institution founded by Saint Ladislaus, the brother of Jelena, King Zvonimir’s wife. This site marks a point of continuity for the Trpimirović dynasty's succession rights, a fact attested to by the relic of his ceremonial mantle, which was later refashioned into a chasuble. The group then stopped in front of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts (HAZU) palace, currently closed due to final post-earthquake restoration work. The palace houses the Baška Tablet, a stone witness to the Croatian language that mentions King Zvonimir and his land grant to the Church of St. Lucy in the vernacular style. The Baška Tablet itself is actually a pluteus (stone panel) from an altar partition, created in a transitional style between Pre-Romanesque and Romanesque. The final stop was the Ethnographic Museum; a modern depiction of Zvonimir’s crown stands above its façade. Originally, the building was the Art Nouveau Craftsmen's Chamber Palace, erected in 1903 based on designs by architect Vjekoslav Bastl. Sculptures by Croatian sculptor Rudolf Valdec adorn the façade near the dome; they depict a female personification of the Croatian Kingdom wearing Zvonimir’s crown, flanked by personifications of trade and craftsmanship. This is one of the most famous and faithful depictions of Zvonimir's crown in Croatia overall.
King Zvonimir and his coronation are of exceptional importance to Croatian history and statehood. The crown featuring a distinctive shape with a wide band, attached crosses, and pendilia is a type of papal crown intended for Christian rulers during the late Pre-Romanesque and Romanesque periods. It was bestowed by Pope St. Gregory VII, making it also a second-class relic, upon our Prince Zvonimir, whom the papal legate Abbot Gebizon crowned King of Croatia in the coronation basilica of St. Peter and Moses in Solin.
"In the name of the Holy and Indivisible Trinity. In the year of the Lord's Incarnation one thousand seventy-six, the fourteenth indiction, in the month of October. I, Demetrius also known as Zvonimir by the grace of God Prince of Croatia and Dalmatia, having received authority from our lord Pope Gregory, was inducted into the governance of the Kingdom of the Croats and Dalmatians and appointed king by means of the banner, sword, scepter, and crown." (Coronation Oath of King Zvonimir)
Thus, the Crown of Zvonimir truly became a symbol of Croatian statehood; historically, it carries religious symbolism affirming royal dignity through a bond with the Church. As well as spiritual significance derived from the coronation Mass itself, which includes the church rites of crowning and anointing. Yet, in terms of the state, it stands as a consummate symbol of Croatian statehood, state rights, and national continuity. It is therefore unsurprising that, until the 20th century, the Crown of Zvonimir was regarded as the embodiment of Croatian state rights and sovereignty.
(With the Archibishop of Zagreb mons. Dražen Kutleša)
A replica of the old Croatian crown modeled after the depiction of King Zvonimir’s crown found on a relief from a Split pluteus (stone panel) was recently presented to the Archdiocese of Zagreb. The crown was created to mark the 1,100th anniversary of the Croatian Kingdom, an initiative led by Rev. Luka Poljak in collaboration with the Croatian Catholic Centre in Adelaide and the Croatian Royal Council association.
With this celebration, Zagreb joins other cities—such as Split, Solin, and Trogir in commemorating these significant anniversaries.
Croatian Royal Council
2026
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