Church of Saint Matthew

The Church of Saint Matthew in Tovarnik (Crkva svetog Mateja) is a Roman Catholic church in eastern Croatia, in a small village close to the Serbian border. Its tower is 40 metres high and rises clearly above the low, flat landscape around it. Today the church is best known as a place of remembrance for the Croatian War of Independence.

What should visitors know about the church?

It serves as the parish church and is the centre of the local community. Most accounts, however, mention it in connection with 1991, when the village was at the heart of the fighting. The coordinates are roughly 45.164 N, 19.152 E, in eastern Slavonia.

Why does this church matter?

The site is linked with parish priest Ivan Burik, the only Roman Catholic priest killed during the Croatian War of Independence. He had served in Tovarnik since 1 July 1963 and, before the war, renovated both the parish church and the rectory. He was killed in October 1991 by Serb rebels, in the aftermath of the Tovarnik massacre. Reports say he was killed at the rectory and his body was thrown into a mass grave.

After the peaceful reintegration of the Danube region in eastern Croatia, his remains were exhumed. In January 1998 they were reburied in the Tovarnik cemetery.

What happened to the church during the war?

Tovarnik was occupied on 22 September 1991 by the Yugoslav People's Army and Serb rebels. That day the church bell tower was targeted in particular. The church was badly damaged and needed reconstruction after the war.

How was it rebuilt?

The available sources do not give a full account of the postwar work. What is documented is that in the first half of 2008 the Government of the Republic of Croatia provided 150,000 Croatian kuna to complete the reconstruction. Today the church stands restored and in use, and it also recalls the destruction the war brought.

Is it worth a stop?

If you are travelling through Slavonia or heading towards the Serbian border, Tovarnik makes a short, thoughtful stop. It is not a place of spectacular attractions but of history that is hard to grasp without seeing the places themselves. Keep in mind that this is a working church and a memorial to war victims, so a respectful approach fits. In the small village you can see the tower from outside, visit the church and reflect on what local people went through. The cemetery where Father Burik rests is in the same village.

Frequently asked questions

How tall is the tower of the Church of Saint Matthew? It is 40 metres high.

Who was Ivan Burik? The parish priest of Tovarnik, the only Roman Catholic priest killed during the Croatian War of Independence.

When was Tovarnik occupied in 1991? On the night of 22 September 1991 by the Yugoslav People's Army and Serb rebels.

Where is Tovarnik? In eastern Croatia, in Slavonia, near the border with Serbia.

Has the church been rebuilt? Yes. In 2008 the Croatian government provided funds to complete the reconstruction.