Church of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows

The Church of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows, also known as the “New Church” in Komiža, is the youngest church in the town. It was built in 1759 near the 16th-century castle “Komuna”, at the initiative of the then parish priest and writer Mihovil (Mihael) Milinković and with financial contributions from the faithful. Permission for construction was obtained from the Venetian Doge Loredan and the Bishop of Hvar Bonajuti. According to the Latin inscription on the facade, the church was built primarily so that communion could be brought from it as quickly as possible to the infirm and dying, or to distribute alms. The construction was carried out by Ivan Petrašić, the most prominent builder from a family known for its long tradition of repairing and building churches, on Milinković’s orders. Due to the lack of space in the old town core, the church is not oriented with its facade facing west, like most Vis churches, but had to adapt to the surrounding houses. The exterior is characterized by a late Baroque facade with a distaff carrying three bells, while the throne is carved with relief volutes. Inside, there is a small marble altar with a painting of Our Lady of Sorrows, and the walls are decorated with images of St. Jerome and the Virgin Mary with Child surrounded by saints. The choir in the church was made by the same master who designed the one in the Church of Our Lady of the Pirates. The Gothic sprinkling font, older than the church itself, is especially valuable, and is assumed to have been transferred from Muster, the Church of St. Nicholas. A room intended for a baptistery was added to the church, with a wall-mounted custodian for holy oils, and it shows the stylistic characteristics of the Bokanić workshop. The Church of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows is still used for everyday rituals today, which is a rarity in this area. Due to its history, artistic value and special purpose, it occupies an important place in the spiritual and cultural life of Komiža.