202225th Anniversary of the Diocese of Varazdin - First Day Cover

On 5 July 1997, the Holy See announced the decision of the Holy Father, John Paul II, to establish new dioceses with headquarters in Požega and Varaždin. Dividing the territory of the Zagreb Archdiocese, the Holy Father founded the new Diocese of Varaždin, with its headquarters in Varaždin, the northwest of Croatia, under the bull Clarorum sanctorum, and for its first bishop he appointed Msgr. Marko Culej, former auxiliary bishop of Zagreb, who chose "life and peace" as his episcopal motto. The enthronement ceremony of Msgr. Marko Culej was held on 28 September 1997 in the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Varaždin, which became a cathedral with the founding of the Diocese. On the very day of his enthronement, the new bishop pointed out that the program of his episcopal service was to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ closer, not only to the faithful of his diocese, who at the founding of the Diocese numbered about 380,000 in a population of about 400,000, but to all people in general. Saint Mark of Križevci and Blessed Alojzije Stepinac were chosen as the Heavenly Protectors of the Diocese.