Sveti Vlaho takes a short trip to… Brussels!
Dubrovnik’s saint and eternal protector, Saint Blaise (Sveti Vlaho) can be found all over the city, his likeness built into ornate sculptures almost everywhere you turn in the Old City, keeping a watchful eye over Dubrovnik.
Believed to have prevented a surprise attack from the infamously jealous Venetians on their arch Adriatic trade rival, the formerly autonomous Republic of Ragusa (Dubrovnik Republic), Saint Blaise cemented his place in the deeply woven and long history of Croatia’s southernmost city, becoming an intrinsic part of its culture, with his spirit celebrated every single year. Read more here.
It seems Dubrovnik isn’t the only place that will be giving the saint a huge celebration, as Belgium is set to get a touch of it too.
As Dubrovacki Dnevnik writes on the 19th of January, 2018, this year’s Saint Blaise festivities will begin in Belgium on January the 28th, 2018, beginning with the reading of the proclamation of the festival in front of the Cathedral of Saint Michael and Saint Gudula in Brussels, followed by the traditional releasing of the doves as an internationally recognised symbol of freedom and peace. After the opening of the Festival, the traditional Kandelora Dinner (Večera od Kandelore) will be held at the Vinograd restaurant, accompanied by traditional music from the much loved Klapa Kaše.
The next day, on January the 29th, 2018, at the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in the Kingdom of Belgium, a lecture will be given by the director of the Dubrovnik Museums, Pavica Vilać, on the topic “Daint Blaise (Sveti Vlaho) and Dubrovnik”, highlighting the long tradition in Dubrovnik which marks the anniversary of the arrival of Saint Blaise in the city, on the calm evening of the 2nd of February, back in the year 971. This will take place alongside the opening of Dubrovnik wine sets with Klapa Kaše’s music in the Bois Tranquille wine bar.
The presentation “Wine-growing of the Dubrovnik-Neretva Canton” will be held by Franica Miloš from the Regional Development Agency (DUNEA), and sommelier Ivo Ivaniš, with the wine and winners of last year’s successful Festiwine, held in Dubrovnik.
The partners of the Festivity of Saint Blaise held in Brussels are the Office of the Representative in the European Parliament Mrs. Dubravka Šuica MEP, the representation of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce in Brussels, the Tourist Board of the City of Dubrovnik and the Tourist Board of Dubrovnik-Neretva County.
