A Wreath Laid at Sea for Fallen and Missing Seafarers: Šibenik Captains Preserve a Proud Tradition
The city of Šibenik paid tribute to all seafarers who have perished or gone missing throughout the centuries of Croatia’s maritime tradition. In Šibenik, a city profoundly intertwined with the sea and seafaring heritage, the feast of St Nicholas is observed each year with exceptional reverence and gratitude. St Nicholas, the patron saint of seafarers, travellers, and children, holds a special place in the hearts of Šibenik’s citizens, and his feast day is celebrated as a reminder of communal solidarity and the courage of those whose lives are inseparable from the sea.
On the occasion of the Feast of St Nicholas, the Association of Maritime Captains and Officers of Šibenik, the Seafarers’ Union of Croatia, and Lastavica Cruising once again organised—now for the thirty-first consecutive year—the ceremonial laying of a wreath at sea in memory of all fallen and missing seafarers.
Inside church of St Nicholas are sail ships as presents from seafarers / source: Cruiseclipping.com / author: Zagorka Stančić
The commemoration began with a Holy Mass in the Church of St Nicholas, a 17th-century Baroque church that once belonged to the brotherhood of seafarers and shipbuilders. Located on the Šibenik waterfront, near the site of the former historic shipyard, the church opens its doors only a few times a year. It is dedicated to seafarers and adorned with approximately thirty model sailing ships.
These models are votive offerings donated by Šibenik’s seafarers, who pledged that, should their voyages remain safe and free from tragedy, they would express their gratitude to St Nicholas by crafting a model ship and presenting it to the church.
In remembrance of all seafarers lost in the vast blue expanse, a convoy of vessels also set sail. The organised procession departed under the escort of vessels from the Maritime Police, the Harbour Master’s Office, the Fisheries Inspection, and the JK Val club boat. In the Šibenik Channel, between the islands of Zlarin and Zablaće, wreaths were solemnly laid into the sea.
Accompanied by the sound of ship sirens, homage was paid to all seafarers who courageously navigate the world’s oceans, as well as to those who dedicated their lives to the sea and whose legacy remains permanently preserved in the collective memory of Šibenik.
Šibenik continues to uphold and cherish this commendable tradition with enduring dedication.
