Veneration of Our Lady of the Stone Gate

On the occasion of Day of the City of Zagreb and the feast of Our Lady of the Stone Gate, the patroness of our city, we are bringing a story of veneration of Our Lady of the Stone Gate.

The veneration of Our Lady of the Stone Gate is based on a legend of a miraculous image of St. Mary.

The Stone Gate is a well-known Zagreb site. It is the only preserved medieval city gate of the former Gradec built in the 13th century.

The gate was covered with a roof in the 16th century, and in the 17th century, a defensive tower alongside was incorporated into a residential house, with apartments on the upper floor by the 18th century. Great fire in 1731 ravaged Gradec, including the Stone Gate, destroying all the wooden parts of the building. However, a contemporary, B. A. Krčelić, a chronicler, recorded the following about this tragic event:

“during this fire, a memorable event occurred: amid the flames, the painting of the Blessed Virgin Mary remained unharmed, and thanks to the pious widow of some man named Modlar, it is now venerated under the arch of the city gates. Amidst the flames, even from the ashes, after the frame had completely burned, the image was found whole and undamaged, and on the third day it was retrieved from the ashes.”

This event was immediately recognised as a miracle by the citizens, so the Modlar widow had an altar built under the arch of the Stone Gate, where she placed the painting. Soon, this site located within the public passageway, became a place of worship. It was a place where devotion was expressed, but there were no mass pilgrimages, the act of devotion was expressed individually. The altar, which was later further adorned, became a place where people of Zagreb lit candles and this practice continues to this day.

Citizens would express their petitions or gratitude for mercy granted by Our Lady of the Stone Gate by placing small marble plaques with inscriptions, which today cover the entire wall of the old city gates. And so, a small chapel under an ancient archway became the most beloved place of worship for the people of Zagreb.

This phenomenon also influenced a more recent history of this modest sanctuary. On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the sanctuary in 1931, a large celebration was held in the city, attended by the Alexander, the King of Yugoslavia and his Queen, along with numerous citizens and dignitaries. On this occasion, the miraculous image was specially adorned:  golden crowns, ornamented with semi-precious stones, were placed on the heads of Mary and Jesus. In 1991, on behalf of the Zagreb Archdiocese, Archbishop Franjo Kuharić declared Our Lady of the Stone Gate the patroness of Zagreb.

This was followed by a decision from the city authorities in 1991 to declare and celebrate 31 May as the Day of the City of Zagreb, in honour of its heavenly protector.

According to the book “Zagrebačka blagdanska ozračja” by Aleksandra Muraj (published by AGM, ZCM, and the Institute for Ethnology and Folklore Studies)

(A. T.)