Crostwitz is enthusiastic: 800 years of Sorbian culture with Archbishop Eterović!

Crostwitz is enthusiastic: 800 years of Sorbian culture with Archbishop Eterović!

An extraordinary event was celebrated in Crostwitz: a festival week took place from June 11th to 22nd, 2025 in which the 800-year history of the place was celebrated. The climax of these celebrations occurred on June 22nd, when Archbishop Dr. Nikola Eterović, the Apostolic Nuncio to Germany, paid a visit to the Sorbian community. Eterović celebrated the anniversary mass together with Bishop Heinrich Timmerevers of Dresden, which took place in Sorbian and German and was attended by hundreds of believers. According to bistum-dresden-meissen.de, the nuncio honored the deeply rooted faith tradition and cultural heritage of the Catholic Sorbs.

Preparations for this joyous occasion spanned a decade of celebrations with a variety of cultural, historical and spiritual events. These ranged from a parade, craft demonstrations and musical performances to book presentations and programs for children and seniors. Pastor Měrćin Deleńk expressed his enthusiasm to those present about the visit of high-ranking guests, which was an unforgettable experience for many residents.

The Sorbian community takes center stage

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

The festivals and customs of the Sorbs are colorful expressions of their identity. The seasonal celebrations begin with the Woklapnica community meeting and end at Christmas time with the Christ Child. 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 Sorbian culture, but also evidence of their deep roots 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 Holy See's diplomatic service. Since September 21, 2013, he has been Apostolic Nuncio in Germany and Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps. Eterović is known for his fluency in languages, including German, and has previously worked in various Apostolic Nunciatures. 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. The nuncio's visit once again showed how important the dialogue between faith, culture and society is - not only for the Sorbs, but for all people in Germany.