Gregory of Nin statue Split
The statue of Gregory of Nin in Split it is not like any other statue around the world. Although we find similar statues in the world's capital, statues that have long since overcome a symbol and a figure of people on whose image and occasion are carved. The statue of Gregory of Nin is no longer significant by the zealous pose and its 3 meters height, nor is it remembered as a work of the famous Croatian sculptor Ivan Mestrovic. His most interesting part is at the foot of the statue at a hand of the passerby and it is marked by the brushed bronze of the thousands of touches of the random and passers. There is a belief in Split that a wish marked by the touch of the thumb of the mighty Gregory, must come true. This believe has long left the boundaries of Split, so everyone who passes through the town or rents an apartment, room or vacation house in Split entrusts his wishes to the famous Gregory's thumb. It is less known today that this monumental statue is one of the three made by Mestrovic, with the other two in Varazdin and finally in Nin, since Gregory was the bishop of Nin diocese. Gregory of Nin is famous for his fiery defence of the Old Croatian language and the Glagolitic script when serving the Holy Mass. He lived at the beginning of the 10th century at the time of the latinization of the clergy. King Tomislav was backing him, but Gregory lost the battle for language and even his diocese at church councils in 925 and 928. He remains the bishop, but with the Skradinic diocese, moving the similar way as his statue in Split did - it was first placed at Peristyle until 1954 than moved to the location where it can be found today - between the Golden Gate and Đardin. Good luck!
