2008The Monastery of Zaostrog - First Day Cover

Zaostrog was mentioned for the first time by written monuments in 1494 although the life in those areas was in progress in the ancient past too, and the rich cultural life during the Roman rule is witnessed by many ancient monuments. The most important cultural monument in that area is the Franciscan monastery of St. Mary established by monks of the order of hermits of St. Augustine. After the fall of Bosnia in 1463 under the Turkish rule Augustinians abandoned the monastery and retreated to the islands. Herzegovinian Franciscans from Ljubuški settled in the abandoned monastery in 1468 from where they carried out pastoral service for believers in Herzegovina for full 130 years since the Turkish authority demolished all monasteries in that area. One of them was also Father Pavao Jakić, who became vicar and guardian later on and died in Zaostrog on 1 January 1508. One of the most important cultural monuments illuminating the cultural level of the monastery at that time is a stone inscription written in the Croatian language and a special script ("Bosancica") from 1589, located above the main entrance to the church.