Slovenian Newspapers as a Source for the Knowledge about the Activities of Slovenian Franciscans in Pazin

Abstract

The connectedness of Slovenia and Croatia is an ever-present factor in Croatia (and in Slovenia); in some geographical areas it is particularly intense. One such area is the present-day border area of the two countries, the Istrian peninsula being one of the specific geographical areas in which this connection has throughout history been especially obvious. Apart from educational, cultural, literal, political and other connections, ecclesiastical-pastoral relations have played a significant role in this interrelationship. A large number of priests from Slovenian areas have been registered who, although from Slovene regions, performed their duties (for a longer or shorter period of time) in Croatian Istria. In scholarly and expert works on church issues little attention has been paid to Franciscans from Slovenian areas, who were also present in Franciscan monasteries in Croatian Istria and for various reasons devoted some of their activities to this area. In scholarly and expert literature, it is difficult to find relevant information on many of them, hence, this work drew on data from Slovenian newspapers, which covered information on Croatian Istria and were published in the late 19^th and early 20^th century. Precisely this is the period covering the analysis of the life and activities of Slovenian Franciscans who were present in Croatian Istria. This paper pays special attention to the activities of Franciscans as follows: Alojzije Bobnar, Emilijan Dovgan, Alfonzo Furlan, Norbert Gregrl, Ananij Vračak and Ferdinand Zajec.