Krstivode, on the hill above Dobro Selo, is known as one of the oldest pilgrimage sites in Herzegovina, dating back to 1308.
The name Krstivoda itself is unique. More commonly, one might encounter names like Krstina or Krstine, Crkvina or Crkvine, but Krstivoda is singular. And this alone speaks to the uniqueness of this place and its significance. The name comes from the words “krsti + voda”, meaning “the place where water is blessed” or “the place where water is baptized.”
Historians agree that throughout history, there was a water blessing at Vodokršće, and the faithful would gather for the blessing and take the holy water to their homes, families, herds, and properties. People would come not only from Dobro Selo but also from the entire Brotnjo parish, which was historically quite vast.
At Krstivode, there are two stone Čatrnje (water cisterns). What makes these cisterns special is that they are located on a hill and only collect rainwater. These cisterns have no gutters or channels. It is said that the water in them has never run out. There is a local tradition that one half of the cisterns (the right side from the entrance to the pilgrimage site) is used for blessing, and the other half is for drinking water. Understandably, not everyone could attend the water blessing at Vodokršće, but the faithful would come for the blessed water whenever it was most convenient for them.
After the Turkish conquerors destroyed the church and the monastery, the cisterns remained. These cisterns are a lasting memorial to the former religious buildings and Franciscan presence, but they also became a gathering place for the faithful and a source of blessings. Here, the faith was preserved despite all the persecutions.
