An unknown perpetrator broke into the church and took about HRK 100 in donations, county police said, while the Eparchy of Dalmatia said that major damage was caused.
MPs Pupovac and Anja Šimpraga visited the church and the local Orthodox cemetery, “one of the most significant in Dalmatia,” according to Pupovac.
“We decided to come to show that nobody should have fear or wrong ideas about the event which took place here… From everything we heard, this was an act of vandalism,” Pupovac said.
We are deeply confident that this wasn’t done on religious or ethnic grounds, but by unfortunate people who evidently don’t receive enough care from those who should care for them, he added.
“We wish to raise awareness in people that they can be proud of this religious and cultural site,” Pupovac said, adding that the cemetery “should be protected so that it isn’t vandalised again in any way.
Šimpraga concurred that this was an act of vandalism. “It’s people who are not accepted in society the way they should be.”
“Both Catholics and Orthodox believers come here. We are here to tell vandals not to come and destroy something that someone respects and considers sacred. Neither ethnicity nor faith is important. We must primarily be human and do our best to live better in this city, county and republic. We are sending a message of peace… and wish to establish some new values which have been lost in all these years”, she said.
