
Church of St Marija Magdalena




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The Church of St. Marija Magdalena stands proudly on elevated ground above and slightly northwest of the town. In its prime, the church had a belfry with a single bell and a tin-covered roof, while its interior featured a stone floor. There were two entrances: one that still exists today on the western wall, and originally, a door on the southern wall leading to the sacristy. Inside, there was a statue of Marija Magdalena. Kata Petanjak, nee Babic, remembers entering the church and seeing the altar of St. Nikola on the right side, holding a book in his hand and three ruddy apples. On the other side, there was an altar dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes, and in the distance, the altar of St. Jurja (St. George). The main altar was devoted to St. Marija Magdalena, and in front of it, there was a wooden fence where children lined up during masses.
Before 1943, when viewed from the outside of the church on the western wall above the entrance doorway and below the rosetta, we believed there was a tombstone for Nikolas III Zrinski from 1534. It is thought that it was originally placed on the floor. This tombstone has been removed and we believe it is now stored in the Franciscan monastery in Kostajnica.
Every morning, Martin Slovic would open the church and ensure it was closed again in the evenings. During the feast of St. Jurja, a choir would sing, attracting guests from other places.
Although it may not be evident now, looking at the uneven grass surrounding the restored stone walls of the church, before 1943, graves surrounded the church walls on three sides. A wooden fence once protected the northwestern edge of the graveyard from wandering livestock.
Starting from the northern end of town, where the Cross stands – referred to as "Cross roads" by some and "CrissCross" by others – there is a road that leads up the hill toward the Zrinski Fortress and St. Marija Magdalena's Church. The road was called "Orašče" because after the last house along the road, there were plenty of Walnut trees. A branch to the right takes you up to Zrinski Fortress, and continuing straight leads you to St. Marija Magdalena.