Vukašin Mandrapa ( sr-Cyrl, Вукашин Мандрапа; died 1942/43) is a saint and a martyr of the Serbian Orthodox Church canonized as Saint Vukašin of Klepci (''Свети Вукашин из Клепаца''). His surname and place of birth are disputed. Several sources claim his surname was actually Toholj, and some claim he was from the village of Lokve and not Klepci. Ustashas killed him probably in August 1942. The years of his death is also disputed, as either 1942 or 1943. According to one story, Vukašin was a farmer and merchant, born in Klepci.Miletić, Antun. "Zver umorna od klanja!"
novosti.rs; accessed 16 April 2018. According to historian Ivo Rendić-Miočević there is no historical evidence of its existence. He and his family lived in

Sarajevo Sarajevo ( ; cyrl, Сарајево, ; ''see names in other languages'') is the capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a population of 275,524 in its administrative limits. The Sarajevo metropolitan area including Sarajevo ...

and then returned to Klepci, but were arrested and sent to the

Independent State of Croatia The Independent State of Croatia ( sh, Nezavisna Država Hrvatska, NDH; german: Unabhängiger Staat Kroatien; it, Stato indipendente di Croazia) was a World War II-era puppet state of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. It was established in p ...

's Jasenovac death camp. Mandrapa was listed among the victims of Jasenovac in 2007 by the Serbian Fond for the Research of Genocide in Jasenovac. According to testimony given in 1970 by neuropsychiatrist Nede Zec who was detained in Jasenovac, Mandrapa was singled out by a Croatian

Ustaše The Ustaše (), also known by anglicised versions Ustasha or Ustashe, was a Croatian fascist and ultranationalist organization active, as one organization, between 1929 and 1945, formally known as the Ustaša – Croatian Revolutionary Move ...

, surnamed Friganović (first name Josip or Mile), who had observed his stoic behavior during the forced labor days and the slaughter of prisoners at night."New Martyr Vukašin of Klepci"
pemptousia.com; accessed 16 April 2018. During one night when prison guards made bets as to who could slaughter the most inmates, Friganović allegedly attempted to compel Mandrapa to bless the Ustaše leader

Ante Pavelić Ante Pavelić (; 14 July 1889 – 28 December 1959) was a Croatian politician who founded and headed the fascist ultranationalist organization known as the Ustaše in 1929 and served as dictator of the Independent State of Croatia ( hr, l ...

. Mandrapa refused to do, even after Friganović had allegedly cut off both his ears and nose after each refusal.

"And when I ordered him for the fourth time to shout "Long live Pavelić!" and threatened to take his heart out with a knife, he looked at me, and by somehow looking through me and over me into uncertainty, he slowly and clearly said "just oudo your job, child."

The executor then allegedly cut out Mandrapa's eyes, tore out his heart, and slashed his throat.

References

External links

Biography on Jasenovac info website
* Mandrapa, Vukasin 1940s deaths Date of death missing Year of birth missing 20th-century Eastern Orthodox martyrs People from Čapljina New Martyrs Persecution of Serbs People executed by the Independent State of Croatia People murdered in the Independent State of Croatia Serb people who died in the Holocaust Yugoslav people who died in the Holocaust Bosnia and Herzegovina civilians killed in World War II Deaths by blade weapons {{serbia-bio-stub People who died in Jasenovac concentration camp Serbs of Bosnia and Herzegovina