Icon Collection

The Church of All Saints, along with the Brotherhood of All Saints, was established in the early 15th century on the site of a previous church, which dated back to the 10th or 13th century. The Brotherhood of All Saints, also known as the Brotherhood of Good Death, is the oldest confraternity in Korčula, founded in 1301 by the town’s first bishop, Dominican Ivan Krušić, only a year after the establishment of the Korčula bishopric.

Throughout the centuries, the church and the adjacent confraternity hall, located in a nearby palace, have amassed an invaluable collection of religious artefacts. Among the most remarkable items is the collection of Italo-Cretan icons, brought to Korčula during the War of Candia (1645–1669), a protracted conflict between the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Venice and its allies over the island of Crete. Following Venice’s defeat, Christian heritage and refugees, including priests and Venetian administrators, were evacuated from Crete, with several priceless icons finding their way to Korčula aboard a Venetian galley.

The collection, dating from the 14th to the mid-17th century, comprises eleven icons and three painted crucifixes, the oldest of which is displayed inside the church, to the left of the main altar. Two of the most renowned icons are Christ Pantocrator and Madonna Hodegitria, both created in the 15th century in the strict Byzantine iconographic tradition, featuring detailed figural compositions set against a radiant golden background.

This extraordinary assemblage of icons is a testament to the rich historical and spiritual legacy of Korčula, preserving both the artistic excellence and the Christian heritage that have shaped its identity over centuries.