Church of St. Roch

You are in front of the Church of St. Roch, in the heart of the old town, right next to the former western gate of Omiš. It was first mentioned in 1579, which means that it had been here before. It belonged to the Brotherhood of St. Roch, an association of citizens that played an important role in the life of the city in the 16th and 17th centuries. At that time, the brotherhoods, in addition to gathering believers, often took care of public order, organized events, and sometimes even had the right to propose pardons for convicts. It is interesting that the members of the brotherhood elected their leadership every year by secret ballot and held joint lunches, which was an important form of gathering and decision-making for the society of that time. St. Roch and St. Sebastian were protectors against the plague, a disease that repeatedly threatened Omiš. During epidemics, residents prayed to them in particular, hoping for protection. In the 18th century, while the Church of St. Peter on Priku, the Baroque altar from that church was moved to the church of St. Roch. That altar, together with the painting of St. Roch, was thoroughly renovated in 1998 under the leadership of the parish priest, Don Ljubo Bodrožić. This preserved the valuable cultural heritage and history of this place. Another interesting fact: for the altar with the coat of arms of the Kačić princes, the famous painter Francesco Negri painted the altarpiece "The Virgin Mary with Child, St. Roch and Sebastian". This painting further connects the church with the most important Omiš nobility and artistic heritage. Today, the church of St. Roch is not among the largest in Omiš, but its history and connection with the local community make it an indispensable part of the city's identity.