Marko Kalogjera


Marko Kalogjera PCG COL, also known as Monsignor Marco Calogerà or Marco Calogjera, was a priest and Roman Catholic Bishop of Split and Makarska, present-day Croatia, and Kotor, present-day Montenegro. On September 7, 1881, he was awarded the title of Commander of the Austrian Imperial Order of Leopold.

Biography

He was ordained on August 27, 1843, and served as chaplain for one year. He later served as chancellor of the Diocese of Dubrovnik for five years. In 1850, he served at the Mandaljena Parish. Between 1850 and 1852, he was Deputy Director of the Dubrovnik Seminary, and he was a professor in Zadar from 1853. In 1856, he was appointed Bishop of Kotor.
In 1869, he was appointed Bishop of Split and Makarska. During his time as bishop, he founded the Bishop's Palace and the Foundation of St. Cyril, where he was instrumental in preserving the ancient Glagolithic script. Kalogjera restored the burial ground and bell tower of St. Duje, built a new seminary in Split, and create the List of the Diocese of Split and Makarska. Many new churches were built in the Diocese of Split during his tenure as bishop.
Kalogjera was very patriotic, and he was friends with Don Mihovil Pavlinovich and Don Franko Bulich. He is credited for his guardianship of the Croatian language, and he was particularly responsible for the protection of the Glagolitic script and Slavic worship in Dalmatia.