Croatia

Country
The country of Croatia is located on the Balkan Peninsula, along the eastern cost of the Adriatic Sea. Slavic tribes began settling the Balkan Peninsula in the seventh century A.D. and the Croatians in 925 became the first of these people groups to be united into a single state. One historical factor which determined a lot of Croatian history in the following centuries was the Croats decision to accept Roman Catholicism following the split between Eastern and Western Christian churches in 1054. The other historical factor which has shaped much of Croatia’s history is its ongoing ethnic conflict with Orthodox Serbia. With the exception of the time between 1953 and 1980, when Croatia was part of Yugoslavia and suppressed under the rule of Josip Tito, most of the history of the country in the 20^th century has been filled with violence, hatred and war atrocities committed on both sides. There is relative peace in Croatia today, although many unresolved tensions with neighboring Serbia remain.

People/Society
The Croats have been described as people who are sociable, optimistic, proud of their heritage and hospitable to foreigners. They highly value their families, but a good education and a good career are also very important. Since Croats for centuries have struggled to gain independence, they are very proud of their internationally recognized sovereign country.

Religion
After decades of oppression under communism, religion, specifically Christianity, in Croatia today experiences a period of revival. The Catholic Church again plays an active role in political and social affairs. Of the 4.5 million people in Croatia about 90 percent profess to be Roman Catholic; about 4.5 percent belong to the Orthodox Church; 1 percent is Muslim and a small percentage belongs to a Protestant Church.

On the field, the Church of the Nazarene is ministering in the following countries: Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Kosovo, Macedonia, Romania and Slovenia