Crostwitz enthusiastic: 800 years of Sorbenkultur with Archbishop Eterović!

Crostwitz enthusiastic: 800 years of Sorbenkultur with Archbishop Eterović!

Crostwitz, Deutschland - In Crostwitz, an extraordinary event was celebrated: from June 11th to 22nd, 2025, a festival week took place in which the 800-year history of the place was celebrated. The highlight of these celebrations arose on June 22, as Archbishop Dr. Nikola Eterović, the Apostolic Nuncio in Germany, who attended Sorbian community. Eterović celebrated the anniversary fair together with Bishop Heinrich Timmerevers from Dresden, which took place in Sorbian and German and was visited by hundreds of believers. According to Bistum-dresden-meissen.de, the deeply rooted faith and the cultural heritage of the Catholic Sorben.

The preparations for this joyful occasion included a festival decade with a variety of cultural, historical and spiritual events. These ranged from a parade, craft demonstrations and musical performances to book presentations as well as programs for children and seniors. Pastor Měrćin Deleńk was enthusiastic about the visit of the high -ranking guests, who was an unforgettable experience for many residents.

The Sorbian community in the focus

Crostwitz is not only known as the center of Catholic faith, but also as an important place of Sorbian culture. The Sorbs, an ethnic minority in Germany, mainly live in the south of Brandenburg and in the east of Saxony. Around 60,000 people are committed to this community, which is proud of their language and customs. The Lausitzer Sorbs speak two Sorbian languages, Upper and Lower Sorbian who are part of the West Slavic language family and are often used at their cultural events.

The solids and customs of the sorbs are colorful forms of expression of their identity. The seasonal celebrations begin with the municipal assembly Woklapnica and ends with the Christ child in the Christmas season. The bird wedding in January and the Easter riding, which is of great importance for the Catholic Sorbs, are particularly important. These traditions are not only part of the Sorbian culture, but also testimonies of their deep rooting in the region, which are anchored in the annual calendar, as can be read on Unesco.de.

insight into the life of the apostolic nuncio

Archbishop Nikola Eterović, who was born in Croatia on January 20, 1951, has had an impressive career in the Roman Catholic Church and the diplomatic service of the Holy Chair. Since September 21, 2013, he has been an apostolic nuncio in Germany and Doyen of the diplomatic corps. Eterović is known for his flowing language skills, including German, and previously worked in various apostolic nunctions. The reactions to his public statements have also been critically discussed in the past, as noted on wikipedia.de

The anniversary in Crostwitz was not only a celebration of the past, but also a look into the future of Sorbian culture and community. A visit to the nuncio has once again shown how important the dialogue between faith, culture and society is - not only for the sorbs, but for all people in Germany.