– Association of Ognaja Marija Livanjska –
The village of Čelebić connects to Kovačić and extends in a southeast–northwest direction, running parallel to the new asphalt road between Livno and Bosansko Grahovo. It stretches for two kilometres between Kovačić and Bojmunat. The village’s name originates from the word čelebija, which in Turkish refers to a refined young man of noble descent. In the past, the village belonged to the well-known noble Firdus family from Livno. The settlement existed long before the Ottoman rule in the region — dating back to the time of the Illyrians and Romans. Unfortunately, there are no historical documents that could help us determine the village’s earlier name.
Among the populations of neighbouring villages, as well as those on the other side of the field beneath the Dinaric Alps, a specific area in Čelebić was known as Barjak. This was the site of the Firdus family homes, where a flag was constantly flown on one of the houses — hence the name Barjak (meaning “flag”) remains associated with this location to this day.
Along the stretch from Kovačić and Čelebić, partially above Bojmunat and through Ćoruša, remnants of a Roman road can still be seen. A section of this road was used by the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) to construct a route during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1991 to 1995. Above Čelebić lies the plateau known as Podovi. This highland extends, with varying terrain, from Vrbica to Strupnić. Until the beginning of the Second World War, this area was used by residents of Čelebić — particularly the Šunjka family — for raising livestock and producing cheese and other dairy products, in which they excelled both then and afterwards.
Čelebić served as a municipal centre for an extended period of time, particularly during the era of the first Yugoslavia and for a while after the Second World War. It was the administrative centre for neighbouring villages as well as those across the field: Rujani, Čaprazlije, Provo, Gubin and Sajković. In addition to this, the village had a post office and a medical clinic.
During the Second World War, in 1941, Ustaša forces killed 396 Serbs in the village. A smaller number of the victims were thrown into the Bikuša pit above Čelebić, while the majority were buried in a mass grave at Barjak. A memorial now stands at that site, and more information can be found here. The names of the victims are available here.
According to the 1991 census, the village had a population of 448, of whom 131 were of Serbian ethnicity, 316 of Croatian ethnicity and 1 person of another ethnicity.
For many years, Serbs and Croats lived together in this village. During the Ottoman rule in Bosnia, Muslims also lived here. Toward the end of the 1992–95 war, the majority of the Serbian population fled, and their houses were burned. After the war, some Serbian homes were rebuilt, but the process of return and reconstruction has been slow.
Unlike in other villages in the Livno region, in this village Serbs and Croats share a common cemetery, separated only by a low partition. You can learn more about the cemetery here:
FAMILIES
Serbian families:
Crnogorci – Crnogorci were a larger family in Čelebić. They used to live in Kovačić. They preserve a family tradition of Montenegrin origin. It is not known how or when they arrived in this region. Their family slava (patron saint’s day) is the Assembly of the Holy Archangel Michael – Aranđelovdan.
Ercezi – They settled in Čelebić from Strupnić, originally from Herzegovina. Their slava is Saint Luke the Apostle and Evangelist – Lučindan.
Kozomore – They came to Čelebić from Bogdaši. Their slava is the Assembly of Saint John the Baptist – Jovanjdan.
Kravarušići – Formerly known as Marijani. They moved to Čelebić from Sajkovići. Their slava is the Assembly of Saint John the Baptist – Jovanjdan.
Milutini – They settled on their current property from Strupnić. Their earlier origin is unknown. It is known that they moved to Čelebić by order of a bey. Their slava is the Assembly of the Holy Archangel Michael – Aranđelovdan.
Petrovići – They came here from Otišić near Vrlika in Dalmatia. Their slava is the Assembly of the Holy Archangel Michael – Aranđelovdan.
Radići – They trace their roots to Posavina and moved to Čelebić from Provo. Their slava is Saint Thomas the Apostle – Tomindan.
Radoje – They moved here from the village of Glavice near Glamoč. They had previously settled in Glavice as serfs in 1903. Their slava is the Assembly of Saint John the Baptist – Jovanjdan.
Rosići – They settled here from Sajkovići. Their slava is the Assembly of Saint John the Baptist – Jovanjdan.
Šunjke – This family originated in Montenegro. According to family tradition preserved by Dušan Šunjka, son of Vlado, their ancestors first came to the area near Zadar, where they changed their surname from Obad(ović) to Šunjka. From the Zadar region they moved to the area near Vrlika, and from there to the Livanjsko Polje. For a time, their ancestors celebrated the Assembly of Saint John the Baptist – Jovanjdan, but after a winter tragedy while obtaining drinks for the celebration, they changed their slava to the Prophet Elijah – Ilindan.
Vujanovići – They came to this village from Dalmatia, somewhere near Vrlika. They share a common origin with the Vujanović family from Radanovci. Some sources indicate they are originally from Montenegro. Their slava is Saint Stephen the First-Martyr and Archdeacon.
Croatian families:
Barbarići – from Broćno in Herzegovina
Bilići – from Potravlje near Sinj
Gele
Jukići – from Bitelić near Sinj, present in Čelebić in 1741
Kovači – from Ljuti Dolac in Herzegovina
Križani
Pašalići (formerly Radilović) – from Jajce
Plazon(i)ći – from Vrlika, arrived in 1814
Popovići – in Čelebić as of 1814
Rimci – in Čelebić as early as 1741
(Translated from the Serbo-Croatian here)