Serbian men from Vrlika in Croatia, also known as "the guardians of Christ’s tomb". Milan Cvitkovac
The tradition is held every year after the Easter liturgy in the Serbian Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas in Vrlika. The Church of St. Nicholas was founded in 1618. It is not known when the tradition began, although folklore says it has existed for more than four centuries. The “guardians” arrive at the church dressed in the traditional costumes of the Serbian population from Vrlika and the surrounding villages. Led by a harambaša, two guards take their positions to the north and south of Christ’s Tomb. The guards frequently take turns, marching through the church almost unnoticeably, taking their places and observing the Holy Shroud without blinking. The custom stems from deep folk piety and does not disrupt the church liturgy, but it contributes to it with its warrior elements.
