Transcript 300 Years Of Our Parish Church and Downtown


Emperor Karlo VI. ruled Austria and Hungary
at the begining of the 18th century. His
daughter Marija Terezija came to the
Habsburg throne. The Croats and the
Hungarians supported her to become the
Queen of Austria, Hungary and Croatia. She
ruled for 40 years (1740. – 1780.). Her son
Josip II. ruled from 1780. – 1790.

Late in the 17th century after the Turkish
army was defeated at the battle at Wien in
1683. a lot of people from Bosnia, Serbia,
Austria (40%) and Hungary moved to
Downtown. They founded a settlement called
Donja Varoš.

At the begining of the 18th century there
were 1200 inhabitants. Primary school was
attended by about 50 pupils. In 1737 there
were about 2500 residents and about 452
homes.

Catholic population built the Church in 1714.
The Church of the blessed name of Virgin
Mary was consecrated in 1732. There was
only one nave. After that it was expended.
The first Chaplain was Matija Vucić (1706. –
1714.). The main altar was dedicated to
Virgin Mary. Later in 1762 the tower was built
with four bells which were 350 killos heavy.
The biggest bell was 60 killos heavy. In 1754
there was a fenced graveyard around the
Church.

In 1744, residents of Donja Varoš built a
beautiful baroque chapel Saint Rocco. It is a
votive Church. St. Rocco is a patron saint of
plague.There was a monument built across
the street which was also dedicated to
plague. The house of Ignjat Kragujević was
built the same year. It has been restored and
now it’s a historical monument.

In 1750 Orthodox Church was built (Crkva
Uspenije Presvete Bogorodice – Church of the
Assumption of the Virgin Muses). The most
famous Downtown Graveyard was first
mentioned in 1701. The Catholic Chapel was
built in 1870. The Orthodox Chapel was built
in 1882.