Statue of Our Lady of the Snows Placed Along the Busiest Adriatic Channel
The four-meter-tall statue, the work of stone carver Vlado Knežević, was blessed by Zadar Archbishop Milan Zgrablić in Ždrelašćica Cove on the Feast of Our Lady of the Snows.
The four-meter-tall statue, the work of stone carver Vlado Knežević, was blessed by Zadar Archbishop Milan Zgrablić in Ždrelašćica Cove on the Feast of Our Lady of the Snows.
In Ždrelašćica Cove on the island of Ugljan, along one of the busiest maritime channels in the Adriatic, through which more than two thousand vessels pass daily during the season, a monumental statue of Our Lady of the Snows has been erected. The statue of the Mother of God holding the Child Jesus was solemnly blessed by Zadar Archbishop Milan Zgrablić during Mass on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, on the very feast of Our Lady of the Snows.
The statue is carved from fine Brač stone, stands three meters tall, and with its pedestal reaches four meters, placing it among the largest statues of the Virgin Mary in Croatia. It was crafted by stone carver Vlado Knežević from Biograd na Moru, who spent eighteen months working on it in the 'Markvinia' stone workshop.
The initiative to erect the statue came from the parish priest of Kukljica, Father Marko Vujasin, and local residents over two years ago, and was supported by the Pastoral and Economic Councils of the Kukljica Parish, the Archdiocese of Zadar, and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia. The project was also aided by the Municipality of Kukljica and numerous donors.
Archbishop Zgrablić highlighted the symbolism of the new statue. "This statue is a sign of faith, a reminder that Our Lady is permanently present among her people and that she watches over all who pass by with maternal care. Her gaze is turned toward the sea, toward the boats sailing through this cove, toward the fishermen and families traveling between the islands, and toward all who journey on this maritime route," said Mons. Zgrablić, as reported by Z NET.
"May this statue be a beacon of faith and hope, a sign that a Mother watches over us, guiding us toward the safe harbor, Christ the Savior," the Archbishop urged.
The statue resembles the existing Kukljica statue of Our Lady of the Snows, which has been carried every year for five centuries from the parish church of St. Paul in Kukljica to Ždrelašćica Cove. The tradition dates back to 1514, when sailors found an image of Our Lady of the Snows at that spot, after which a church was built.
Following Mass, a traditional procession of boats took place. The Archbishop warned that the procession must not remain merely an external custom. "A boat circling the statue of Our Lady is an image of a person who wants to direct their life toward God. In doing so, we profess that we do not wish to sail alone, without direction or purpose," he said.
In his homily, the Archbishop strongly emphasized that Mary is not the ultimate goal. "Mary does not keep our boats circling around her. She is not the destination of our voyage, but leads us to her Son. Her desire is that we listen to Christ," emphasized Mons. Zgrablić.
The Archbishop connected the sea with human destiny. "The sea is sometimes calm and sparkling, and at other times restless, unpredictable, and dangerous. Such is our human life. Sometimes everything is peaceful, clear, and secure, and then waves of illness, loss, misunderstanding, family difficulties, loneliness, and fear of the future rise up," said Mons. Zgrablić.
He expressed his wish that Mary protect the faithful in the storms of life and teach them to remain with Christ even when the sea is calm, "so that we do not seek God only in times of trouble, but every day." On Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, the Archbishop also remembered Croatian defenders. "We must not forget their sacrifice, and we are called to preserve the freedom they gave us through responsible living, mutual respect, care for the common good, and committed building of a just and peaceful society," he urged.
Upon returning to Kukljica, the statue of Our Lady was placed on the side altar of the parish church of St. Paul, where the Archbishop offered a prayer of consecration. This event also recalled the most important Marian statue in Croatia, the miraculous statue of Our Lady of Bistrica from the 15th century, and the visit of Pope John Paul II to Marija Bistrica on October 3, 1998.
