800TH ANNIVERSARY OF ST. MARTIN’S HERMIT CHAPEL IN PODSUSED

Motif: St. Martin’s Hermit Chapel in Podsused St. Martin’s Chapel in Podsused St. Martin’s Chapel in Podsused is built on a rocky terrain, an elevation above the brook running from the west side of Medvednica, southeast of Susedgrad hill and flowing into the river Sava. Next to the chapel used to stand a cave with two chambers in which, according to a legend, lived St. Martin Hermit proclaimed a saint due to his many virtues. The big cave was destroyed in 19th century when a quarry was opened there. Today can be seen only traces of remaining rock attached to the Chapel. The Chapel is mentioned for the first time in the historical sources already in 1209, but it is believed that it existed already in the 10th century and is one of the oldest sacral monuments in north-west Croatia. From 1287 until 1345 the Chapel was the ownership of Cistercians. According to a visitator‘s description from the year 1677 the Chapel was made of bricks, entirely vaulted with an portico, topped with a wooden tower above the entrance. In the year 1749 a cemetery right next to the Chapel is mentioned. In 1845 along the south wall additional chapel dedicated to St.Valentine was built, but was damaged in the earthquake in 1880 and totally collapsed in 1899. That same year the Chapel of St. Martin was reconstructed following drawings of a nobleman Hektor Eckhel, a foreman of the Zagreb Cathedral and an associate of Herman Bollé. Architect Eckhel designed a neo-Gothic picturesque chapel with a small gable porch. In the axis of the neo-Gothic stone portal stands a rosette, and above it is a wooden belfry (zvonik na preslicu). The bells in the belfry date from the 17 century. In the south wall of the nave is a pointed arch window made of stone. According to the image of the restaurateur, the Chapel became an example of a unique piece of art, proportional architecture; inner design characterised with abundant ornamental fresco and minutely designed details. Marking the 800th Anniversary of mentioning of the Chapel in the Deed of the Croatian-Hungarian King Andrew, in custody of the Zagreb Diocese Archive, and after about one hundred year of neo-Gothic renovation, the chapel was carefully restored and protected as a national cultural heritage in 2008. St. Martin Hermit of Podsused “According to the Croatian legend there lived a hermit Martin in a cabin near Podsused close to Zagreb and after his death in his memory people built a chapel. Some people believe that it was the same Martin which Istrians celebrate in their legend. For the history of Istira is vey important the story about a virtuous Martin who came from Istria to the Croatian state. Konstantin VII Porfirogenet mentioned Martin in his records in “De administrando imperio”. In this document written in Greek the Emperor stated: ‘At the time of the reign of the prince Trpimir, the father of Krešimir, came from Frankish Kingdom, region situated between Croatia and Venice, a man called Martin, very pious man but dressed as a layman. Croats also talk about his miracles. This pious man was feeble and mutilated and four men had to carry him. He preached to Croats in the name of Pope and asked them to observe the words of Pope; he prayed the same prayers as Croats did. Neither big nor small vessels of Croats disturbed their neighbours with war, only counter attacked when attacked.’ Furthermore, Porfirogenet mentioned the Peace treaty, signed between Croats and the Pope Agaton (678– 681) that Croat’s won’t disturb their neighbours with war, only retaliate. He also mentioned that Martin came on behalf of a Pope in the time of prince Trpimir II reign (928 – 935). The Raša river was the border between the Croatian state and Frankish Kingdom. He stated that the Hermit came from the Frankish Kingdom, from the region between Croatia and Venice, and that is Istria.“ (Quotation taken from Lexicon of the Iconography, Liturgy and Symbolism of Western Christianity, edited by: Anđelko Badurina, Kršćanska sadašnjost, Zagreb, 2000, page 305)