Our Lady of Sinj is the title given to the painting of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy

Mercy

Mercy is broad term that refers to benevolence, forgiveness and kindness in a variety of ethical, religious, social and legal contexts.The concept of a "Merciful God" appears in various religions from Christianity to...

 in Sinj

Sinj

Sinj is a town in the continental part of Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia. The town itself has a population of 11,448, while the population of the administrative municipality which includes surrounding villages is 24,832 ....

, venerated as miraculous in the Cetina

Cetina

Cetina is a river in southern Croatia. It has a length of and its basin covers an area of . Cetina descends from an altitude of 385 m at its source to the sea level when it flows into the Adriatic Sea. It is the most water-rich river in Dalmatia....

 district. Mary is described as the queen of heaven and earth and set on the throne of "her goodness, love and charity". The Sinj sanctuary is famous all around the world wherever there are Croats

Croats

Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...

. Numerous pilgrims come to receive Gospa's mercy.

The painting

Experts suppose that the painting was painted by an unknown Venetian artist in the 16th century.
The painting was originally located in Sinj

Sinj

Sinj is a town in the continental part of Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia. The town itself has a population of 11,448, while the population of the administrative municipality which includes surrounding villages is 24,832 ....

. In 1536 Sinj fell into Turkish

Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...

 hands and the painting was moved to Rama (Herzegovina

Herzegovina

Herzegovina is the southern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While there is no official border distinguishing it from the Bosnian region, it is generally accepted that the borders of the region are Croatia to the west, Montenegro to the south, the canton boundaries of the Herzegovina-Neretva...

) where it remained until 1687. The miraculous powers of the painting were discovered during the period that the painting was in Rama. The Turks were raiding in Bosnia. They burned houses, monasteries and devastated everything. Because of the danger Franciscans were running away from Rama. They took with them the miraculous painting which was their consolation, defense and help. Finally in 1687, the painting came to Sinj and has stayed there to the present day.
It is kept in the Franciscan monastery of the Franciscan Province of the Most Holy Redeemer

Franciscan Province of the Most Holy Redeemer

Franciscan Province of the Most Holy Redeemer is a province of the Franciscan Order of the Catholic Church based in Split, Croatia which is active in Dalmatia, Croatia....

.

Special devotion to this painting began in the most difficult period of Croatian history, in the time of fighting against the Turks. The Croatian people were defenders of western civilization and Christianity

Christianity

Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...

 for several centuries.

Miracle

The borders were never peaceful. On August 7, 1715 the Turks started to attack Sinj. The Turkish army under the leadership of Mehmed Pasa were more numerous and better armed than the brave Sinj defenders. The battle finished on August 15, 1715 when the brave heroes of Cetina finally beat the Turkish military. The defenders of Sinj were convinced that Our Lady Mary (Miracle Painting from the Sinj church) gave them strength for their glorious victory. Also, the Turkish army was significantly weakened by disease which was raging among them. All were convinced that was also God’s deed. It is written that the Ottomans saw a woman in light and were frightened by it.

That is the reason why in the town of Sinj, the holiday of the Assumption of Mary

Assumption of Mary

According to the belief of Christians of the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, and parts of the Anglican Communion and Continuing Anglicanism, the Assumption of Mary was the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her life...

  on August 15, is always specially respected and celebrated. Special pride in their achievement was taken by the surviving defenders who in commemoration of their victory instituted the Alka

Alka

The Sinjska alka is a knight tournament which has been held every first Sunday in the month of August in town of Sinj, Croatia since 1715, commemorating the victory over Ottoman Turkish administration...

 tournament.

Crown

As a sign of thanksgiving, the military officers of the Sinj army had the gold crown with cross made to ornament the Miraculous Painting. In 1716 Kupili, Archbishop of Split, crowned the Painting.

Veneration

The Blessed Virgin Mary has been helping her pilgrims ever since, not only in the general common needs of the town and Cetina district (during war, against plague, drought, earthquake), but also in different specific individual needs. The people from Sinj and Cetina district, as a sign of gratitude and love, gave a wreath of 12 silver stars to their patroness. Every year on 2 July that wreath is set on the altar of the Holy Mother and a solemn mass of thanks is said. Pilgrims give the most precious presents to their patroness and from these gifts decorate the Miraculous Painting of the Blessed Virgin Mary.