Nicholas Tavelic facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SaintNicholas Tavelic O.F.M |
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Portrait of Tavelić from ca. 1500
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| Religious, Priest and Martyr | |
| Born | c. 1340 probably Šibenik, Kingdom of Croatia and Dalmatia |
| Died | November 14, 1391 Jerusalem, Mamluk Sultanate |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 1889, Saint Peter's Basilica, Papal State by Pope Leo XIII |
| Canonized | June 21, 1970, Saint Peter's Basilica, Vatican City by Pope Paul VI |
| Major shrine | Croatian National Shrine of St. Nicholas Tavelic in Šibenik |
| Feast | November 14 (Tavelićevo) |
Nicholas Tavelic, also known as Nikola Tavelić in Croatian, was a Franciscan friar and missionary. He died as a martyr in Jerusalem on November 14, 1391. He was honored along with three friends: friars from Italy and France.
All four of them were later declared saints by the Catholic Church. This made Nicholas Tavelic the first Croatian saint to be officially recognized.
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Early Life and Calling
Nicholas Tavelic was likely born around 1340. Most people believe he was born in Šibenik, a city in Croatia. Some sources also suggest a place called Velim. He came from a noble family.
In 1365, Nicholas joined the Franciscan order. He became a friar at the monastery in Bribir. This town was an important center for a powerful Croatian noble family called the Šubićs.
Missionary Work
Nicholas Tavelic was one of 60 friars who went to Bosnia. They were asked to spread the Catholic faith there. A special letter from Pope Nicholas IV in 1291 encouraged this mission.
Nicholas worked as a missionary in Bosnia for 12 years. He helped many people learn about Catholicism. A report to the Pope later said that these missionaries helped about 50,000 people convert.
Journey to the Holy Land
In 1383, Nicholas Tavelic moved to the Custody of the Holy Land. This is a special group of Franciscans who care for holy places. In Jerusalem, he met three other friars: Deodatus Aribert, Peter of Narbonne, and Stephen of Cuneo.
The four friars lived at the Monastery of Mount Zion. This was an old Franciscan monastery in Jerusalem. They spent several years learning Arabic. They also helped at the holy sites connected to Jesus' life. These sites were important for Christian pilgrims from Europe.
Preaching and Martyrdom
Nicholas and his friends saw that few local Muslims were becoming Christian. They decided to follow a rule from their founder, Francis of Assisi. This rule allowed them to openly preach the Christian faith.
They went to a public gathering before the city's judge, called a Qadi. There, they began to preach about Christianity. They were quickly arrested for this. They were given a chance to convert to Islam, but they refused.
After several days in prison, they were again asked to convert. They refused once more. Because of this, all four friars were sentenced to death. They were executed near the Jaffa Gate on November 14, 1391. Their bodies were completely burned.
Becoming a Saint
Friar Gerard Chalvet saw the executions. He was the leader of the Jerusalem friary. He sent a detailed report to Europe, including the Pope and Šibenik. Soon, Franciscans across Europe honored Nicholas and his friends as martyrs.
Many years later, in 1880, Bishop Antun Josip Fosco from Šibenik started the process. He wanted Nicholas Tavelic to be officially recognized as a saint. In 1889, Pope Leo XIII officially recognized the honor given to Nicholas in Šibenik. This honor was extended to the whole Franciscan Order in 1898.
The other three martyrs were also recognized by Pope Paul VI in 1966. They had their own feast day on November 17. Then, on June 21, 1970, all four friars were officially declared saints together. Pope Paul VI canonized them in front of 20,000 Croats in Vatican City. Their shared feast day is November 14.
Today, there is a Croatian National Shrine of St. Nicholas Tavelic in Šibenik, Croatia. His feast day in Croatian is called Tavelićevo, which means "Tavelic's day."
Churches Honoring Saint Nicholas
The first Catholic church in Croatia dedicated to Saint Nicholas Tavelic was in Zagreb. It was in the Kustošija neighborhood. The parish was started in 1939. The church was officially opened in 1943.
The first church outside Croatia dedicated to him was near Sombor. It was opened on November 14, 1971.
Many churches dedicated to Saint Nicholas Tavelic are in Croatia. Some are in Banjevci, Cerovac, Lišani, Perković, Split, Vinjani, Zagreb, Rijeka, and Županja. Churches abroad can be found in Argentina, Canada, Australia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
