The appearances of Boka Navy at town festivities in Kotor, Perast and towns of Navy’s branches are regulated through the Bylaw on dress, titles and appearances of the active membership of Boka Navy Kotor.

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KARIKE

The tradition of transfer of St. Tryphon’s relics to Kotor on January 13th 809, 289 years before the transfer of St. Nicholas’ relics to Bari, is celebrated as Karike by electing Officer and Sergeant of the Boka Navy. This day was established through a decision made by its Great Assembly on December 30th, 1631.

On this day, the Navy elects a Little Admiral, a young boy who accompanies the Admiral during public performances, representing a symbol of generational continuity of the organization.

In the first book of the Kotor Diocese Archive, beginning with the year 1431, an old custom is mentioned, which says the Perast pastor conducts mass on this day, as it was him who accompanied the ship carrying St. Tryphon’s relics from Perast to Kotor.

The name “karike” is derived from the Italian word incaricare, meaning to entrust.

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LODE (WORDS OF PRAISE)

Little Admiral’s duty is to recite lode – words of praise dedicated to town’s patron – on January 27th, eight days before the main St. Tryphon’s Day festivities.

The word lode stems from the Latin laudes, which means “praise” and represents a part of the breviary, prayer book which is practiced at dawn. In the medieval towns on the Eastern Adriatic, words of praise towards patron saints were preserved in Zadar, Split, Dubrovnik and Kotor. Presently, they are only recited in Kotor during St. Tryphon’s festivities.

It is known that lode were recited in Kotor as early as the Byzantine period, as was the case in other towns in the East Adriatic. They were practiced even during the reign of the Nemanjić Dynasty and Hungarian-Croatian kings. Lode are also mentioned at the time of Venetian rule, more specifically in the Statue of the Town of Kotor from 1616, which states that words of praise (facta laude) were recited on July 25th 1420, following the solemn procession and mass at the Cathedral.

In modern times, lode were recited according to a text that had been restored in the second half of the 17th century by Bishop Marin II Drago. He wrote them based on a medieval Latin text which has not been preserved. Today’s text dates to 1800. Up until 1871, lode were recited in Italian, and after that in Montenegrin. They were translated from Italian in 1871 by the Prčanj pastor Don Mihovil Florio.

Lode used to be recited both in front of the Cathedral of St. Tryphon and the Co-cathedral of St. Mary of the River, whereas today they are exclusively performed from the loggia of the Cathedral. In Dubrovnik, they are also referred to as laus and were preserved to this day. They were recited by the admirals at dawn before the St. Blaise festivities, while a state flag was hoisted on Orlando’s Column. They mentioned all the town patrons with whom Dubrovnik had good trade relations, St. Tryphon included.

In Kotor, Little Admiral has been to one to recite the lode since the 16th century, when the Navy took over the outdoor ceremony of St. Tryphon. This the translation of lode in English:

The annual restoration of a ceremony

Which we are bound to observe,

Revives in us precious memories of devotion,

Reminding us of the great work by our forefathers,

Who under the guidance of the Miracle Worker,

Whose holy powers Kotor cherishes,

Became heroes of faith and land,

And to us,

Their merry descendants,

Left a glorious legacy.

Therefore, let us celebrate once again,

With traditional shine and familiar customs,

This celebration we hold so dear

And may we all

Be inspired by the same saint who we celebrate today.

Let us first praise the Lord,

Then pay respect to the Blessed Virgin Mary

And the foremost martyr of Jesus,

Saint Tryphon.

Praise be, Great Lord,

That for as many centuries

As moments have passed,

We unfurl this glorious banner

Always in

Happiness, harmony and love.

Glory! Glory! Glory!

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ST. TRYPHON’S DAY OUTDOOR CELEBRATION

St. Tryphon’s outdoor celebration begins on January 27th, a date that coincides with St. Sava’s Day, which is observed by Orthodox Christians. On this day, after communion and sermon in front of the Church of St. Nicholas, the Orthodox and Roman Catholic believers move towards the square in front of the Cathedral of St. Tryphon, accompanied by City Music marching band (a more recent addition). There, exactly at noon, the Little Admiral of Boka Navy (different one each year), recites lode to St. Tryphon from the Cathedral’s loggia, then the flag of St. Tryphon is raised and the Kolo dance starts.

Prior to the main outdoor ceremony, the Navy participates in transporting and guarding St. Tryphon’s relics. On February 2nd, day before St. Tryphon’s Day, the relics are transferred from the reliquary to the Cathedral. They are carried by six sailors, accompanied by the Admiral, Kotor Bishop and clergy, as well as twelve citizens of Kotor, six Orthodox and six Catholic, emphasizing the tradition of unity among its residents. The relics are placed to face the altar while being guarded by sailors with halberds. This is followed by the age-old custom of burning incense, where six Catholic and six Orthodox residents pass among each other a thurible with incense across the altar, symbolizing Christian faith and unity. On February 3rd, St. Tryphon’s Day proper, four sailors in uniforms with halberds guard the relics during the mass at 10 am and 6 pm.

This age-old tradition has been observed to this day.

The main outdoor ceremony is held on the first Sunday after St. Tryphon’s Day. In modern times, it has been carried out each year according to a predetermined schedule:

18:30 AM   Kotor division of the Boka Navy gathers at the Home of the Navy.

19:30 AM   Kotor division greets divisions from the Tivat and Herceg Novi branches in front of the town gate, who are accompanied by City Music marching band from Tivat. The Tivat Commander reports to the Kotor one, after which all three divisions head towards the Home of the Navy to form the Main Division of the Boka Navy.  

19:45 AM   The Main Division of the Navy is formed. The Commander reports to the Admiral, or in his absence, the Vice Admiral. After the report, the Main Division heads towards St. Tryphon’s Square, accompanied by City Music marching bands from Kotor and Tivat. Upon arriving, the Main Division is aligned towards the southern steeple, where it reports to the Admiral of the Boka Navy.

10:00 AM   Navy performs the kolo dance in honor of St. Tryphon. Before the dance starts, the kolo leader asks the Kotor Bishop to bless the kolo and the sailors.

10:30 AM   Pontifical High Mass is held in the Cathedral.

12:00 AM   Procession passes through the squares and streets, in which the Main Division is carrying flags. Eight sailors carry St. Tryphon’s relics accompanied by two lancers, while the other two follow the flags.

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BOKA NAVY DAY

Boka Navy Day is traditionally celebrated with a series of festivities on Sunday, honoring June 26th 1463, when the first Statute of the Boka Navy was published. This date was declared Boka Navy Day in a Statute from 2004, amending the earlier provision which marked September 10th (Yugoslav Navy Day) as Boka Navy Day, which was established by statutes from 1964 and 1976.

The celebration starts in the afternoon, by receiving the national flag from the President of the Kotor Municipality in front of the municipality building, followed by a traditional walk to the main gate and report to Admiral of the Boka Navy.

The President of the Municipality hands over town keys to Navy’s representatives. The Navy’s symbolic three-day rule of the town is an act evocative of the medieval custom in which the Kotor provveditore handed over town keys to Navy to guard and take care of the town for three days.

After the key transfer ceremony, Boka Navy begins the traditional kolo dance at the Square of Arms. In accordance with the age-old custom, at the end of the dance, Admiral, President of the Municipality, Little Admiral, officers and sergeants join the kolo, carrying national and Boka Navy flags.

From a historical perspective, the meaning of Boka Navy’s three-day rule over town, granted by the Kotor provveditore – the Venetian representative – was most likely more than symbolic. According to Dr. Miloš Milošević, scientific researcher and Admiral of the Boka Navy, the essence of this privilege was the continuous restoration of the historical notion that implied voluntary surrender of sovereignty to the Republic of Venice in 1420, which Kotor took great pride in. “The act of giving over the keys and executive power renewed the historical memory which reminded that Kotor had accepted Venetian rule out of free will, as opposed to coercion and conquest. The representative of this once-free town could only be someone who enjoyed considerable reputation, but also a real, locally established military formation.” (Dr. Miloš Milošević)

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MUNICIPALITY OF KOTOR DAY

Municipality of Kotor Day is held on November 21st. It commemorates the events from 1944, when the units of the People’s Liberation Army, Second Dalmatian and First Boka Brigade freed the town from the occupying forces.

Navy’s participation in the Municipality Day festivities is of more recent date; it is usually conducted the following way: in the morning hours, Mayor of Kotor organizes a reception for the Boka Navy delegation in the hall of the Municipality. This is followed by a ceremonial report in front of the administrative building of the Municipality. At noon, the Kotor division of the Boka Navy begins the traditional kolo dance at the Square of Arms.

 

OUR LADY OF THE ROCKS CELEBRATION (VOTIVE DAY)

This day commemorates the heroic defense of Perast against the Ottomans in a battle that took place on May 15th 1654, in which the locals where greatly outnumbered. It is also used to express gratitude towards Holy Mary for her heavenly guardianship. Navy’s Main Division makes an appearance in Perast, led by the Admiral or Vice Admiral, and kolo dance is performed. After the holy mass, the sailors carry the image of Our Lady of the Rocks in procession.

Another custom commemorating triumph over Ottomans remained – the “shooting of the rooster”, who symbolizes the enemy. With the Navy participating, the competitors attempt to shoot the rooster who is tied to the plank above the sea. The one who succeeds wins a šugaman (towel) with embroidered year of the battle and the date of the competition. According to custom, the winner then has to treat the locals with a barrel of wine (60 liters).

 

CELEBRATIONS BY OTHER BRANCHES OF THE BOKA NAVY

TIVAT Branch

Day of the Tivat Branch. Tivat Branch of the Boka Navy celebrates its official day on April 17th, commemorating national heroes Milan Spasić and Sergej Mašera. On this day in 1941, the two men, refusing to surrender the undamaged warship to the Italian occupiers, blew up the Zagreb destroyer, sacrificing their own lives. Every year in the town park, sailors from the Tivat branch lay a wreath on the monument dedicated to the two heroes.

Day of the Municipality of Tivat. On this day, which coincides with the Day of the Municipality of Kotor (November 21st), the Tivat branch division receives the national flag from the President of the Municipality. After this ceremony, majorettes and Tivat City Music band marches to the Pina Riviera, where the President summons the division. After the gun salute, the sailors of the branch begin the traditional kolo dance, which is later joined by the town officials and their guests.

Boka Night in Donja Lastva. “Boka Night” is an event organized by the Tivat Branch of the Boka Navy in February, when it traditionally performs the Boka Navy kolo dance. For residents of Tivat and their guests, Boka Night is an important festivity which offers a diverse program each year: arts and culture, showcase of Boka cuisine and other events whose aim is to preserve the rich tradition of the Boka Bay.

Gornja Lastva Festivities. This event takes place every August in the village of Gornja Lastva near Tivat. It is organized by the tourist-cultural association Napredak and Tivat Cultural Center. The main event of Lastovo Festivities takes place on the first Saturday in August, when the members of the Boka Navy Tivat Branch participate by performing the traditional kolo dance, accompanied by Tivat music society. Many local and foreign visitors, as well as Tivat residents, take pleasure in listening to old folk songs and watching traditional dances known as Lastovo and Škaljari kolo dance.

HERCEG NOVI Branch

Day of the Herceg Novi Branch. Boka Navy’s Herceg Novi branch marks its anniversary on September 29th, day of St. Jerome – town’s patron since 1678. On this day, after completing the holy mass in St. Jerome’s Church, the Herceg Novi Branch division performs the traditional Boka Navy kolo dance in front of the church.

Cattaro Mutiny Remembrance Day. Herceg Novi branch also traditionally observes February 1st, remembrance day dedicated to the sailors who were shot for participating in the Cattaro Mutiny of 1918. On this occasion, after a greeting by the President of the Đenovići community office, the branch division, accompanied by Đenovići local orchestra and Municipality officials, walks in a parade towards the square in front of the local community office, where it reports to the President of the Municipality Assembly of Herceg Novi. Finally, wreaths are lain to commemorate the sailors who lost their lives: one in front of the Vranković house, one in the sea, and one at the memorial site dedicated to those who died in the People’s Liberation War.