Even though it is believed that the name of the village is derived from words ‘Trebunj’ or ‘Trebić’ which denote the autumn sun god, yet this area has a long Christian history, as evidenced by the rich religious heritage.
The oldest of all churches in the village is the Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, situated in Vrtli and raised in 1435. Now it sometimes hosts exhibitions. Holy Mass takes place only on the 8th of September when the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated, and the church is a protected cultural heritage.
One of the most famous parts of Tribunj is a small St Nicholas Church located at the old cemetery in Tribunj on a hill of the same name. The Schematicism of the Šibenik Diocese (“Šematizam Šibenske biskupije”) states that the church was raised by Šimun Šižgorić in 1452, but it seems that the works did not start until 1475 due to the lack of funds. In the past it was a parish church and there is “Običajnik Župne Cerkve S. Nikole u Tribunju” (Customary practices of the St Nicholas Parish Church in Tribunj) to support that claim, published in 1860 in Zadar.
The path leading to the top of the hill has chapels used as stops on the Way of the Cross during the Lent. A mass takes place every year on the St Nicholas Feast, who is also celebrated as the patron of the village and the Municipality. The attractive location of the church lures more and more couples every year from all over Croatia to get married precisely in this little church. It is also protected as a monument of culture.
Next to the peninsula’s parish home is a small St Mary Church, dating back to 1732 and restored in 2002. Today the Tribunj Cultural Association uses it to host plays, exhibitions and concerts. The youngest of the churches is the St Mary’ s Assumption Church, made of white stone and built from 1883 to 1885. It is located at the foot of the St Nicholas hill, opposite the small peninsula and is also protected as a monument of culture. Authentic images and historical heritage of Tribunj are best portrayed through densely built houses and narrow small allies, enriched with many protected and historically significant religious monuments.
Information by: tz-tribunj.hr
D. Šabić