Church of Saints Philip and James

The Church of Saints Philip and James in Vukovar is a Baroque Roman Catholic church built by Franciscans in the first half of the 18th century. It is one of the most important religious landmarks in this Danube city in eastern Croatia, and it still carries symbolic weight for locals: its patron saints are regarded as the protectors of Vukovar.

How did the church come about?

The Franciscans moved to Vukovar from Srijemske Laze. In 1723, Bishop Nesselrod of Pécs granted them permission to build a church and monastery in the town, and work began that same year. Sources differ slightly on when construction ended: one says the church was finished in 1732 and blessed by Marko Dragojević, while another gives 1733. Sigismund Berenyi dedicated it in 1738.

What did it look like, and how did it change?

The original building was a single-nave Baroque church. In the late 19th century it was substantially enlarged: extended in both length and width, with two side naves added in the form of chapels. The work followed plans by the architect Richard Jordan, and Anđelko Voršak dedicated the renovated church on 24 May 1899.

Why do Saints Philip and James matter to Vukovar?

The two apostles have been considered the city's protectors since 1723, the year construction began. That is why the city's holiday, the Day of the City of Vukovar, falls on 3 May, the saints' feast day. City leaders chose the date deliberately, tying it to the anniversary of Vukovar receiving the status of a free royal city.

What happened during the war?

In 1991 Vukovar endured a three-month siege in which around 5,000 people were killed, most of them Roman Catholic Croats. The church was damaged in the fighting, and a 2003 report described its interior as devastated. It has since been rebuilt and restored. A 2018 University of Zagreb thesis covers the destruction and restoration in detail.

Why visit?

• It is an example of Franciscan Baroque architecture on the border of Slavonia and Syrmia.
• The building layers several chapters of history: an 18th-century foundation, a late 19th-century expansion and post-war reconstruction.
• It is tied to the city's identity, since the date of the city holiday comes from its patron saints.
• It fits naturally into a walk through Vukovar's history alongside the town's other memorial sites.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Church of Saints Philip and James in Vukovar built? Construction began in 1723. Completion is dated to 1732 or 1733 depending on the source, and the church was dedicated in 1738.

Who built it? Franciscans who had come to Vukovar from Srijemske Laze, with permission from the Bishop of Pécs.

Was the church damaged in the war? Yes. It was damaged during the 1991 war, and its interior was later described as devastated. The church has since been restored.

What is the connection with the city holiday? The Day of the City falls on 3 May, the feast day of Saints Philip and James, who have been Vukovar's patrons since 1723.

When was the church enlarged? In the late 19th century, to plans by Richard Jordan. Two side naves in the form of chapels were added, and the renovated church was dedicated in 1899.