In recent days, the Zagreb Zoo has seen a host of new-born bunnies coming out of their settlement just ahead of Easter. More info about the latest zoo inhabitants will be announced today, on Easter Monday, when the zoo will organise the special Bunny Show and many other events, reports Večernji List on April 22, 2019.

“The children’s area of the Zagreb Zoo has new inhabitants – five adorable bunnies. They are all of the anthracite-grey colour, except for one which is white-grey. They are about three weeks old and have delighted all the employees and visitors,” said the Zoo.

The Zoo said that visitors would be able to find out more about the bunnies on Easter Monday from 11 am to 5 pm, at the special Bunny Show. The event will also include the participants of the Eko Academy, a programme for elementary school students which is taking place at the ZOO this week, during the school Easter recess. Educators will show children how the zoo takes care of its youngest inhabitants.

On Easter Monday, the zoo will also traditionally organise a programme that combines old customs with content tailored to the new generation of children. In the company of animals enjoying the beginning of the spring, children will be able to find out more about some of the most popular symbols of Easter holidays.

Colourful eggs, filled with desserts, will be presented to chimpanzees, racoons, capuchins, meerkats, lemurs, brown bears and gibbons. The Bunny association will explain the difference between hares and rabbits, as well as show children how people care about their long-eared pets.

The Lutonjica Theatre is preparing children's plays, and the Miss4Miss fashion agency a children fashion show. Members of the twirling club from Sveta Nedjelja will showcase their skills, and a children's choir will delight the visitors with songs. There will also be a host of creative, sports, eco and culinary workshops, and the good mood will be spread by costumed promoters, surprise gifts, cartoons...

The Zagreb Zoo organises the event in collaboration with the Wishmama web portal.

Translated from Večernji List.

More news about the Zagreb Zoo can be found in the Lifestyle section.

ZAGREB, April 21, 2019 - After the Archbishop of Zagreb in his Easter homily called on the authorities to tackle the problem of shipyard workers who have not received their wages for months, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković told reporters that "additional efforts are being made in very demanding circumstances" to address this issue.

Speaking to the press after attending Easter Sunday Mass in the Zagreb cathedral, Plenković said that Archbishop Josip Bozanić's sermon was encouraging to public office holders.

Asked if he took the cardinal's message as a criticism, the prime minister said he thought the contrary. He said that last year the government had secured money for the Pula and Rijeka shipyard workers' wages and was now making "additional efforts in very demanding circumstances." He recalled that a delegation of a Chinese shipbuilding corporation was expected to visit the two docks soon.

Asked how he took Bozanić's sermon, Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković said that it was a complex sermon the gist of which was that "we should do good to each other and take care of those in need."

"The message concerning the shipyard means that obviously there is awareness that the situation is difficult and that account should be taken of the workers and those who have found themselves in a difficult situation through no fault of their own. We have certainly understood that message well and we will deal with that," Jandroković said.

More news about shipyards can be found in the Business section.

ZAGREB, April 21, 2019 - The person of African descent who disrupted Mass in St Peter's Church in the Croatian Catholic parish in Munich on Saturday evening by shouting "Allahu Akbar" and throwing stones, is mentally ill and not connected with terrorism, the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs said on Sunday.

The man was shouting and throwing stones at the congregation and around the church, and the people fled in panic. Twenty-five Croatian nationals were slightly injured in the confusion, the ministry told Hina, adding that police said that the man did not use firecrackers as some media reported.

Croatian media at home and abroad said that it was a middle-aged man who was shouting "Allahu Akbar", which led many of the believers to think that it was a terrorist attack.

Fenix magazine, the Croatian-language news website based in Frankfurt, said that several people had managed to overpower the man and stop him on his way to the altar before the police came in force.

The Croatian ministry quoted the Munich police as saying that the incident had nothing to do with terrorism and that it was caused by a mentally ill person, who has been hospitalised after being arrested.

Police stepped up security around the churches where Mass was celebrated in Croatian, notably around St Michael's Church.

More Easter news can be found in the Lifestyle section.

ZAGREB, April 21, 2019 - The Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, led Easter Sunday Mass at St Stephen's Cathedral in Zagreb, saying that people today needed the strength of determination and wishing everyone was always accompanied by the joy of Easter.

Among those attending were Apostolic Nuncio Giuseppe Pinto, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and his ministers, Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković and MPs.

In his homily, Cardinal Bozanić referred to the shipyard workers in Pula and Rijeka who "have been coming to work for months without being paid," noting that this was happening in a part of the country that was described as most developed.

"How is this possible? Politicians, both local and those at the highest level, are certainly aware of this. Problems that have been long kept under the carpet in the interest of power-wielders need to be dealt with, but it is the little man that gets hurt in such games and calculations," Bozanić said, urging those in charge not to lose sight of the unprotected little man in addressing difficult issues.

He called for prayer for the victims of war and destruction, for peace in the world, for the sick and abandoned, for the lonely, for those troubled by various physical and spiritual hardships, and especially for young people to be ensured a decent future, wishing everyone a blessed Easter.

Easter was celebrated throughout the country as well as in Croatian communities in neighbouring countries and elsewhere.

More news about Easter can be found in the Lifestyle section.

On Easter in 1994, a believer from the United States, Susan Tassone, claims to have had a miraculous healing experience in Medjugorje, reports 24sata.hr on April 21, 2019.

“In 1983, I had a serious traffic accident. I was crossing a street in Chicago when I was hit by a car. The strike was so powerful that it threw me under the car, which hit me again and left a large wound on my leg. I could not travel anywhere. When I told a doctor that I wanted to go on a pilgrimage, I was surprised by his answer: “I think you should leave. Come back in ten days. Be careful.”

A year later, she made a decision to travel to Medjugorje. “I got healed at Križevac. The wounds were no longer on my leg. After I got back home, the doctor examined me and said: ‘Your leg is completely healthy. It is a miracle!’ Tassone recalled, convinced that the Lord had healed her. She submitted her medical documentation to the Medjugorje parish in 1998.

Susan Tassone has published a number of religious books and is active in spreading God's word. With her books, interviews and guest appearances in various TV shows and at religious events, she has provided hope to believers across the United States.

Another Easter miracle in Medjugorje occurred to Damir Ćorić. He was severely ill, underwent five surgeries due to hydrocephalus, the brain enlargement syndrome, which cause enlargement of the head and brain atrophy.

“The long and difficult illness started on March 21, 1980. That was the first time I was examined in Mostar after symptoms that were characterised by weakness in my legs. They moved me from Mostar to Zagreb, where I was diagnosed with hydrocephalus. After the final operation, they sent me home, believing they could no longer help me. I was feeling worse and worse,” said Damir Ćorić.

“In July 1981, my family drove me to Medjugorje. Then my family began to pray. Three weeks later, they took me back to Medjugorje, in the church, where visionary Vicka prayer over me. At that moment, I felt like a force was entering into me. On my way home, I tried to explain to my mother what I experienced during the prayer. I was able to sit on the very next day and then I did my first steps. On Christmas, I started talking, and on next Easter, I was completely recovered,” he said.

In October 1983, he got a job at a factory in Mostar. After a medical examination on January 17, 1984, Damir was proclaimed healthy and capable of work. On the insistence of physicians studying the case, Damir underwent a CT brain scan in 1988 and was additionally examined by a neurologist and a neurosurgeon. Both CT and two specialist examinations confirmed the patient's health.

Translated from 24sata.hr (reported by Ira Kralj).

More Medjugorje news can be found in the Lifestyle section.

ZAGREB, April 20 (Hina) - The president of the Croatian Bishop Conference (HBK), Zadar Archbishop Želimir Puljić, has sent messages wishing a happy Easter to President Kolinda Grabar Kitarović, Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, urging them to promote kindness, understanding and solidarity among people and nations.

"I use this opportunity to extend best wishes for Easter, the resurrection of Christ, which is the source of human hope and the strength and joy of the Church...The resurrected Christ is calling on us to promote kindness, understanding and solidarity among people and nation. And we must continue doing that despite temptation and numerous obstacles," Puljić said in his message.

Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković issued a message on Saturday, wishing a happy Easter to all Christian believers in Croatia.

Stressing that Easter is the foundation of the Christian faith, Jandroković said it was also urging people to promote unity and show care for those in need, as it was the only way to find justice, development, true freedom, peace and happiness.

More Easter news can be found in the Lifestyle section.

ZAGREB, April 19, 2019 - Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on Friday offered his best wishes for Easter to Zagreb Archbishop Josip Bozanić, Croatian Bishops' Conference President Želimir Puljić and all members of the Croatian Catholic clergy, as well as to the faithful in the country and abroad.

"While awaiting the resurrection of Jesus, which is the source of Christianity, we contribute to mutual understanding and tolerance and peace among people of good will with a joint prayer. Encouraged by the power of Christ's resurrection, which renews faith, hope and solidarity in the Croatian nation, we continue to work together to the benefit of all Croatian people, notably the neediest ones," Plenković said in the message.

President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović on Friday wished a happy Easter to the Catholic clergy in Croatia and all Catholic faithful in Croatia and abroad, wishing for stronger faith in redemption and salvation.

"I extend cordial greetings for Easter, the most important Christian holiday, which is the centre of faith for all the faithful hoping for redemption, salvation and resurrection. Strengthened with faith, may this holiday fill our hearts and our homes with peace, love and serenity," the president said in her note.

More Easter news can be found in the Lifestyle section.

Maundy Thursday is a special day on the island of Hvar due to the traditional Za Križen procession, which has been held every year for more than 500 years. This year, the traditional procession will take place in the central part of the island of Hvar on Thursday, April 18. The event has been included on the UNESCO World List of Intangible Heritage since 2009, reports morski.hr on April 15, 2019.

The procession begins every year at exactly 10 pm, starting simultaneously from Pitve, Vrisnik, Svirče, Vrbanj, Vrboska and Jelsa, returning to their starting points at 7 in the morning. Overnight, the participants cover about 25 kilometres. Cross-bearers apply for the role years in advance, sometimes even 10 to 20 years before.

This year, the cross-bearers are: Krišto Barbić in Pitve, Božen Grgičević in Vrisnik, Frane Carić in Svirče, Josip Bojanić in Vrbanj, Robert Čagalj in Vrboska, and Petar Bunčuga in Jelsa.

The cross-bearers are accompanied by a group comprising of two candlesticks (kandeliri) bearers, 6 to 12 heavy wax candles (torci) bearers, up to 30 lanterns (ferali) bearers, two companions which take care of the cross-bearers safety, two lead singers of Gospin Plač, and another 3-4 singers who sing the responses.

The preparations for the event start long before. The festivities begin on Ash Wednesday, when the 40 days of Lent begin, which include the singing rehearsals and the selection of bearers of kandeliri, torci, and ferali. It is customary that every person that the cross-bearer selects for his procession is visited personally by him at their houses. Cross-bearers wear shoes or woollen socks or walk barefoot, depending on their personal vows. It is customary that, at the very start of the procession, their family members pray for them and kiss the bearer and the cross.

Maundy Thursday includes a dinner for the cross-bearer and the party before they start, while on Friday morning there is the so-called “jutrina” for everybody who accompanied the bearer overnight. Also, most families from the cross-bearer’s town give them symbolic presents, such as cakes. After Easter, the cross-bearer’s helpers distribute cakes to houses in the parish.

The procession in Jelsa is different from the others since the cross-bearer concludes his procession by running over the local square after the procession returns to Jelsa. He is welcomed at the very end by the Jelsa priest. The bearer kneels with the cross, before returning to the church. Each parish has its unique features. For example, the cross from Pitve always visits another church located above Jelsa, while in other parishes this is left to the cross-bearers’ decision.

Many inhabitants of the island of Hvar mark Easter with this sacred tradition, and not just in the central part of the island since each town has its distinctive features. This cultural and religious event continues the tradition of songs which have been sung for five centuries with common melodies, but also with differences specific to each part of the island.

Translated from morski.hr.

More news about “Za Križen” procession can be found in the Lifestyle section.

ZAGREB, April 8, 2018 - Eastern Orthodox Christians, who follow the old Julian calendar, were celebrating Easter on Sunday, and Serb Metropolitan Bishop Porfirije led a liturgy in the Temple of the Transfiguration of the Lord in Zagreb.

ZAGREB, April 7, 2018 - Senior Croatian state officials on Saturday extended their best wishes to the Christian faithful in Croatia who celebrate Easter according to the old Julian calendar.