President Milanović Receives Delegation of the Croatian Confraternity “Bokeljska Mornarica 809” Zagreb
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović today received a delegation of the Croatian Confraternity “Bokeljska Mornarica 809” Zagreb (“Bokelj Navy 809”), on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the organized activities of the Bokeljs and their maritime confraternity. The centennial celebration of the organized activities of Croats originating from Boka in Zagreb was held on 10 May.
Timor Šatara, President of the Croatian Confraternity “Bokeljska Mornarica 809” Zagreb, stated that the occasion marks a century of preserving the cultural heritage, faith, and traditions brought by Croats from Boka Kotorska, which have become an integral part of Zagreb’s cultural mosaic. He emphasized that the main mission of the confraternity is to safeguard this heritage – an effort sustained over the years through various means, especially the celebration of the feast of St. Tryphon, the patron saint of Kotor and the Bokelj Navy. The Zagreb Confraternity has approximately 400 members who, through various projects, cooperate with numerous institutions in both the Republic of Croatia and Montenegro. Particularly important, they noted, is the collaboration with the Croatian minority in Montenegro.
To continue preserving the traditions and culture of Bokelj Croats, the delegation emphasized the importance of institutional and financial support from both the state and the City of Zagreb. Although the Zagreb Confraternity holds the status of intangible cultural heritage of Croatia, its activities are funded exclusively through membership fees and donations. In 2022, the Confraternity “Bokeljska Mornarica 809” Zagreb – together with its sister organizations from Split, Rijeka, and Pula – was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This recognition affirms its significance not only as national heritage but also as part of the world’s cultural legacy.
The Bokeljs have been active in Zagreb in an organized manner since 1921, and a documented branch of the Bokeljska Mornarica has existed in the city since 1956. Following Croatia’s independence, the branch was renamed the Croatian Confraternity “Bokeljska Mornarica 809” Zagreb and registered as an independent cultural association, founded on the same statutory principles as the Bokeljska Mornarica in Kotor.
Alongside the President of the Croatian Confraternity “Bokeljska Mornarica 809” Zagreb Šatara, the delegation to the Office of the President of the Republic included Ivana Mance Cipek, member of the Grand Council and Chair of the Committee for Culture, and Željko Brguljan, cultural project coordinator.
President Milanović was accompanied by Melita Mulić, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Human Rights and Civil Society, and Neven Pelicarić, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Foreign and European Policy.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta