The construction of the parish church began in 1880 on the site of an earlier church (and possibly a monastery), likely destroyed by the Turks in 1668. The Church of St. Stephen the Protomartyr is located on the Čerin hill, offering a stunning view of the vast Brotnjo Field. Surrounded by centuries-old oak trees, it is considered one of the most beautiful churches in Herzegovina. Near the church stands a magnificent monument dedicated to Croats who lost their lives in both World Wars, the post-war period, and the Homeland War.
The Legend of the Construction of the Čerin Church
“The Custody Administration tasked Fra Marijan Miletić with building a church. In 1863, he courageously began surveying the area to find a suitable location for a new chapel. The biggest challenge was securing land that was not owned by a Turk, as they were unwilling to sell land to the friars for any amount of money. After scouting the area and inquiring about land ownership, he found a hill near the Čerin Spring that belonged to no one. Upon seeking advice from more experienced individuals, he learned that the Turks claimed that even such unclaimed land belonged to the person whose property was adjacent to it. Fra Marijan, as recorded by Fra Andrija Nikić based on notes from Fra Duje Ostojić, took up residence with the family of Ivan Martinac. Afterward, Fra Marijan summoned a few trustworthy persons. They prepared stone, wood, and straw. After nightfall, they built a small house with dry-stone walls and a straw roof. Inside, they built a hearth from clay and lit a fire so the roof and walls would blacken quickly (…). The Turkish landowner who claimed the hill noticed the fire and came to the newly built structure. He saw the hut, the friar and his people. The next day, he reported the matter to the court. The court sent its experts to the site. The experts saw the house, which appeared partially aged, as its roof was blackened and the hearth looked old. They concluded that, under Turkish law, such a structure could not be demolished. The agha protested again, but when asked to produce ownership documents, which he did not have, the experts declared the hill to be church property.”
