History Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik-Neretva County

Moćnik dubrovačke katedrale

Reliquary chapel and treasury of the baroque cathedral Gospa Velika (Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary) in Dubrovnik, with 172 reliquaries, including the relics of St Blaise.

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About the museum

The present baroque cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built in the 18th century on the site of an older Romanesque cathedral from the 12th century, which was destroyed in the earthquake of 1667. Tradition links the Romanesque cathedral with the English king Richard the Lionheart, who ran aground near Lokrum on his way back from the Crusades.

The relics come from the church of St Stephen in Pustijerna. After the earthquake they were moved to Revelin, then kept for 54 years in the chapter house of the Dominican monastery; they were placed in the present reliquary chapel on 3 February 1721. During the Homeland War they were evacuated to the basement of the Bishop’s Palace and returned on 8 July 1994.

The moćnik (reliquary) is located to the left of the main altar; its baroque appearance is the work of the architect Marino Gropelli and the decorator Petar Matejević. It contains 172 reliquaries, of which about 12 hold objects connected with Christ and about 160 hold bones of saints and blesseds; among them are the head, hand and leg of St Blaise, works of Dubrovnik goldsmiths from the 11th and 12th centuries. The reliquary was opened to visitors only in recent decades; previously only the clergy and the highest state officials could see it.

Highlights

172 reliquaries, including the relics of St Blaise
Baroque reliquary chapel beside the main altar
Works of Dubrovnik goldsmiths from the 11th and 12th centuries