Monastery of St. Nicholas

You are at the site of the oldest active Benedictine monastery in Croatia, founded in 1064 at the instigation of Saint John of Trogir, whose legacy still lives on today. The monastery was built on the site of the former church of St. Domnius. New elements were carefully added, wings were whisper-quietly joined to existing structures, and the city gates were even moved to fit into this quietly growing whole. But beneath all the architectural layers, the core remained unchanged: a dedication to prayer, silence, and inner concentration. The Benedictine nuns rise before dawn and begin their day with contemplation, aware that true peace does not come from the outside world, but from within. Inside the monastery is the Kairos Collection – a space small in size but extremely powerful in meaning. The central exhibit is a relief of the young god Kairos, a unique Greek work from the 3rd century BC, depicting the deity of the moment – that elusive fragment of time that can change your life, but you have to catch it right when it approaches you. Legend has it: You can only catch Kairos by the tuft of hair as it comes, because when it passes – you have nothing left to catch. This symbol of transience, presence and vigilance fits perfectly into the monastic way of life, which sees every moment as an opportunity for inner awakening. In addition to Kairos, the collection also houses numerous sacred objects, paintings, reliquaries and manuscripts. Due to the contemplative life of its inhabitants, the monastery is not open to daily visits. However, the Kairos Collection can be viewed with prior notice.