St. Nicholas

In Komiža, where the sea is equally close and beautiful and dangerous, fishermen have always sought protection from heaven. Their guardian was Saint Mikula the Traveler – the patron saint of fishermen, travelers and the town itself. It was believed that he watched over the boats and all the people who tied their lives to the sea. Every year, on the sixth of December, the people of Komiža expressed their gratitude to him in a special way. On the waterfront, they would set fire to an old wooden ship – a gift to Saint Mikula, but also a sacrifice in the hope that all other ships would remain safe at sea. The flame illuminated the entire town, and people gathered with prayer and song, aware that their lives were in the hands of the sea, but also in the faith they carried. This tradition continues today. Although ships have changed, and fishing is no longer the only destiny of the people of Komiža, the custom of burning a ship has remained an equally powerful symbol. It reminds us of centuries of courage and faith, of a community that has always known that the sea should be respected, but also that sometimes it should be bowed down to.