Culture

The parish Church of St. Stephen

The Parish Church of St Stephen, surrounded by high trees, was the third church with same dedicatee on the same site. 

We know nothing about the appearance of the church of the pre-Turkish times; it was mentioned in his report of 1626 by bishop of Makarska Fra Bartul Kačić
A new church was built on its site and was consecrated on July 13, 1759, by Stjepan Blašković, bishop of Makarska. 

The construction of today’s started in 1887 and was consecrated on October 17,1897.

The fine high altar is made of Carrara marble. The altar of Our Lady was transferred from the old church together with a statue of the Virgin procured in 1825 in Venice. In the choir there are two interesting Baroque pictures with depictions of St Peter and St Jerome. Of particular interest is the altarpiece showing SS. George, John and Paul, the work of Antonio Zuccaro (1827-1892). The tall stone bell tower was added onto the facade at last after World War II, in 1966. 
 
Alongside the church is a new town cemetery, and outside the boundary wall to the sea there are several medieval stone slabs decorated with depictions of shields, swords and crosses.

Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr, is the patron saint of the municipality Brela. 

The feast day of Saint Stephen and Brela municipality day is celebrated on 3rd August.

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