Josip Bozanic

A ceremony was held to unveil the Monument to the Homeland in Zagreb on Thursday, the 21st anniversary of the death of Franjo Tudjman, the first Croatian president after the war for independence from Yugoslavia.

The first spire was toppled during the earthquake, and the second, which was significantly damaged, on expert recommendations, was partly removed weeks ago.

A small amount of explosive was put on the spire to separate it from the cathedral building and it was then lowered to the ground by a crane.

ZAGREB - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and his Croatian counterpart Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic on Monday visited the Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanic, who welcomed the courageous step forward made by the two heads of state towards improvement of Serbian-Croatian relations.

On his first visit to the Vatican, Croatia's new centre-right Prime Minister, Tihomir Oreskovic, is expected to lobby for the canonisation of the controversial Croatian cleric, Alojzije Stepinac.

Josip Bozanic has described "the blessed Alojzije Stepinac" as "a reflection of the face of mercy in the Croatian people's modern history."

Bozanic is the Croatian Roman Catholic cardinal, who made this statement as part of his Christmas message published in Zagreb.

New Serbian Orthodox metropolitan enthroned in Zagreb

ZAGREB -- Newly-appointed Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) Metropolitan of Zagreb-Ljubljana Porfirije was enthroned in Zagreb on Sunday.

SPC Patriarch Irinej presided over the solemn hierarchal liturgy.

ZAGREB - Newly-appointed Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) Metropolitan of Zagreb-Ljubljana Porfirije was enthroned in the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Lord in Zagreb on Sunday, Croatian Radiotelevision reported.

SPC Patriarch Irinej presided the solemn hierarchal liturgy.

Croatia’s centre-left government is striving to end quarrels with the powerful Catholic Church over education in what is seen as a move to boost its tumbling ratings.

Vedran Molnar, the new Minister of Education, is to meet the Catholic primates of both Croatia and Bosnia - and assure them that the government has no intention of pushing religion out of the classroom.

SPC metropolitan laid to rest in Zagreb

ZAGREB -- Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) Metropolitan Jovan of Zagreb and Ljubljana Jovan, who passed away on April 3, was buried on Saturday.

The SPC dignitary was laid to rest at the Cathedral Church of Holy Transfiguration of the Lord in Zagreb.

ZAGREB - Serbian Orthodox Metropolitan Jovan of Zagreb and Ljubljana Jovan Pavlovic died on April 3 and was buried on Saturday in the Cathedral Church of Holy Transfiguration of the Lord in downtown Zagreb.