Kolekcionar vatrogasnog znakovlja

SPOMEN NA POSVETU SPREMIŠTA i 50 GODIŠNJ. OPSTANKA DOBROV. VATR. DRUŠTVO U DJAKOVU 3.VI. 1922 SORLINI VARAŽDIN

godina/year: 1922.

tip/type: spomen medalja/ membership medal

sastav/composition: bronca / bronze

težina/weight: 11.26 g

oblik/shape: okrugli /round with a loop

BISKUP ANTUN AKŠAMOVIĆ VATROGASNI DOBROTVOR

Katedrala sv. Petra u Đakovu doživjela je veliki požar 23. lipnja 1933.g., koji je izbio u orguljama koje su u potpunosti izgorjele, a stradala je i ornamentika, freske, slike… koje su zahtijevale temeljitu restauraciju i obnovu. Za nabavku novih orgulja i obnovu ornamentike glavne lađe i kupole, koja je trajala od 1933. do 1936.g., možemo zahvaliti tadašnjem bosansko-srijemskom ili đakovačkom biskupu Antunu Akšamoviću velikom dobrotvoru mnogih kulturno-prosvjetnih i pjevačkih društava te vjernom podupiratelju vatrogastva. Biskup Antun Akšamović rodio se 1875. godine u Garčinu, gdje je pohađao i završio osnovnu školu, dok je srednju školu završio u Vinkovcima. U Đakovu je završio studij teologije te je 1899.g. zaređen za svećenika. 1926. godine na Zagrebačkom sveučilištu promoviran je u doktora teologije honoris causa.

Do imenovanja za đakovačkog biskupa, Antun Akšamović obavljao je dužnost kapelana u Drenju i Đakovu, zatim je bio prefekt Malog sjemeništa u Osijeku. U Bogoslovnom sjemeništu u Đakovu obavljao je dužnost vicerektora i ekonoma, zatim je predavao moralnu teologiju, pastoralnu teologiju i katehetiku te je imenovan i rektorom, a tu je dužnost obavljao do imenovanja za biskupa 1920. godine. Vrlo je aktivno radio na izgradnji novog sjemeništa u Đakovu za vrijeme svog prethodnika, Ivana Krapca. Za vrijeme biskupovanja sagradio je zajedno s zagrebačkim nadbiskupom Antunom Bauerom Središnje dječačko sjemenište u Zagrebu. Nakon obnove đakovačke katedrale od požara, 1938. godine biskup Akšamović nabavio je tri nova zvona i posvetio ih je sv. Petru, sv. Ivanu Nepomuku i sv. Josipu. Ta zvona se i danas oglašavaju.

Biskup Akšamović sudjelovao je u svojem rodnom mjestu na posveti vatrogasne zastave DVD-a Garčin. Na godišnjoj skupštini DVD-a Babina Greda 2. veljače 1925.g. izabran je za počasnog člana društva, a 1932. godine nazočio je i svečanom događaju posvete njihove zastave. U tijeku priprema za proslavu 50-godišnjice Dobrovoljnog vatrogasnog društva u Vukovaru 1875. - 1925. zamoljen je dr. Antun Akšamović da izvrši posvetu njihove zastave, što je on i učinio 1927. godine. Isto tako zamoljena je grofica Sofija Eltz da bude kuma zastavi. Grofica je prihvatila, s tim da ju je zbog slaboga zdravlja zamijenila Matilda Schel supruga zapovjednika DVD-a Vukovar.

Prigodom posjeta župi grada Otok u Vukovarsko-srijemskoj županiji 1931. godine Vatrogasnom društvu darovao je 200 dinara. Istu je posjetio i 1921.g. kada je podijelio sakrament krizme, čijom prilikom je svirala i vatrogasna limena glazba, koja je bila pouzdani sudionik brojnih crkvenih svečanosti (Florijanova, Papinskog dana, Tijelova, Križarskog brststva...). Biskup Akšamović ustupio je vatrogascima DVD Đakovo zemljište za gradnju novog vatrogasnog spremišta na mjestu gdje se danas spremište nalazi. Po osnivanju DVD-a 03. lipnja 1872.g. općinska šupa godinama je služila kao društveno spremište. Tek je 1892. godine bilo otvoreno vatrogasno spremište u neposrednoj blizini današnje tržnice, no i ono će se vrlo brzo pokazati kao nedovoljno rješenje. Iako je inicijativa za gradnju novog vatrogasnog doma bila pokrenuta još prije izbijanja prvoga svjetskog rata, s ozbiljenjem ove ideje otpočelo se tek 1920.g. kada je biskup Akšamović postao pokroviteljem DVD-a te mu darovao zemljište za gradnju novog DVD-a. Uz angažman biskupa Akšamovića, cjelokupnog općinskog zastupstva, Andre Morića i Ivana Ribara kao visoko pozicioniranih političara pri Vladi i Parlamentu, ali i velikog broja Đakovčana koji su novčanim prilozima i na druge načine dali svoj doprinos početku gradnje, vatrogasno spremište izgrađeno je tijekom 1921.godine da bi kasnije, u više navrata, bilo dograđivano i uređivano. Kako tada, tako i u nizu navrata kasnije, biskup Akšamović je na razne načine pomogao rad đakovačkog vatrogasnog društva. O kakvoj veličini se radi pokazuje podatak da su vatrogasci u Đakovu povodom proslave 50 godina svojeg postojanja i u spomen na posvetu spremišta 3. VI. 1922.g. izdali i medalju sa njegovim likom kao zahvalu za sva dobra što je učinio za vatrogastvo.

 BISHOP ANTUN AKŠAMOVIĆ A BENEFACTOR OF FIREFIGHTING

On June 23, 1933, St. Peter’s Cathedral in Đakovo was struck by a devastating fire that originated in the organ, which was completely destroyed. The blaze also severely damaged the cathedral’s ornamentation, frescoes, and paintings, all of which required extensive restoration. The acquisition of a new organ and the restoration of the nave and dome decorations—carried out between 1933 and 1936—were made possible thanks to the efforts of the then Bishop of the Bosnian-Syrmian (Đakovo) Diocese, Antun Akšamović. A great benefactor of numerous cultural, educational, and choral associations, Bishop Akšamović was also a devoted supporter of the firefighting cause.

Born in 1875 in the village of Garčin, Akšamović completed his primary education there and later attended secondary school in Vinkovci. He studied theology in Đakovo and was ordained a priest in 1899. In 1926, he was awarded the honorary title of Doctor of Theology by the University of Zagreb.

Before his episcopal appointment, Akšamović served as chaplain in Drenje and Đakovo and later as prefect of the Minor Seminary in Osijek. At the Theological Seminary in Đakovo, he held the roles of vice-rector and bursar, taught moral theology, pastoral theology, and catechetics, and eventually became rector—a position he held until his appointment as bishop in 1920. He played an active role in the construction of the new seminary in Đakovo under his predecessor, Bishop Ivan Krapac, and later oversaw, together with Archbishop Antun Bauer of Zagreb, the construction of the Central Boys’ Seminary in Zagreb.

Following the restoration of the Đakovo Cathedral, Bishop Akšamović commissioned three new bells in 1938, dedicating them to St. Peter, St. John of Nepomuk, and St. Joseph. These bells continue to ring to this day.

Bishop Akšamović was also closely connected to the firefighting community. In his hometown of Garčin, he took part in the blessing of the fire brigade’s flag. On February 2, 1925, he was named an honorary member of the Volunteer Fire Department (DVD) of Babina Greda during their annual assembly, and in 1932 he attended the ceremonial blessing of their new flag. As part of the 50th-anniversary celebrations of the Vukovar Volunteer Fire Department (1875–1925), Dr. Akšamović was invited to perform the flag blessing, which he did in 1927. Countess Sofija Eltz was also invited to act as the flag’s godmother, but due to health issues, she was represented by Matilda Schel, wife of the Vukovar fire brigade commander.

During a pastoral visit to the parish of Otok in Vukovar-Syrmia County in 1931, Bishop Akšamović donated 200 dinars to the local fire brigade. He had previously visited the town in 1921 to administer the sacrament of confirmation, on which occasion the local brass band—composed of firefighters—performed. The band regularly participated in religious celebrations such as the feast of St. Florian, Papal Day, Corpus Christi, and events of the Crusader Brotherhood.

One of Bishop Akšamović’s most notable contributions was his donation of land to the Đakovo Volunteer Fire Department for the construction of a new fire station on the very site where it stands today. After the founding of the fire brigade on June 3, 1872, the municipal shed had long served as the brigade’s only storage facility. A dedicated fire station was finally opened in 1892 near today’s market, but it soon became inadequate. Though the idea of building a new station was proposed even before the First World War, concrete steps were not taken until 1920—coinciding with Bishop Akšamović’s patronage of the fire brigade and his donation of land.

Thanks to the support of Bishop Akšamović, the local municipal council, influential politicians such as Andre Morić and Ivan Ribar, and the generous contributions of many citizens of Đakovo, construction of the new fire station began in 1921. Over time, the building was expanded and improved on several occasions. Throughout his life, Bishop Akšamović continued to support the work of the Đakovo fire brigade in various ways.

In recognition of his invaluable contributions, the firefighters of Đakovo issued a commemorative medal bearing his likeness in 1922, marking the 50th anniversary of the fire brigade’s founding and the blessing of the fire station on June 3, 1922—a lasting token of gratitude for everything he had done for the advancement of firefighting in the region.