29.09.2025. 06:30h
Although its health has been questionable in the past, the Old Olive Tree will celebrate its 2250th birthday in significantly better condition, and it has also given fruits that will be gifted to the people of Baranja with “liquid gold” – olive oil, called “Mirovica”, as a sign of gratitude to the neighbors who have protected it for centuries.
Maria Markoč, the director of the Bar “House of Olives”, said this to “Vijesti” on the occasion of the start of the celebration of the great anniversary of the existence of the “Bar foster mother”.
The board of directors of the “House of Olives” declared November 27th as Old Olive Day, because on that day it was entered into the register of protected cultural assets in 1957. Although its big birthday will officially be in two months, they decided, says Markoč, to start the celebration two months earlier because, in her opinion, the olive tree deserves a celebration that lasts longer than one day.
A series of activities in honor of the Old Olive Tree began on Friday when a multimedia event “The Old Olive Tree – 2250 Years of Existence Under the Crown of Eternity” and a unique, purpose-made fashion collection “Root and Crown” were organized around its tree in Mirovica. Anastasia MiranovićThus began the celebration of the significant jubilee of this natural asset, the oldest certified olive tree in this area.
“This was a very demanding event to organize, but I think it was very beautiful, very successful and justified the motto of the House of Olives – a trail of tradition towards a modern future,” said Markoč, who assessed that they showed that agriculture and fashion can go together.
The most important thing, she emphasizes, is that they have something to look forward to, and that is the fact that the condition of the Old Olive is significantly better and that this year it has yielded fruits that will be used in the coming months to make a limited series of olive oil called “Old Olive”, as well as a regular, commercial version, called “Mirovica”, in honor of the place that has always reconciled feuding people.
“A place that is recognized on the world map as a synonym for peace. It will be a symbol of respect for all the people of Mirovica, who did not give up such a tree, such as the Old Olive Tree, even in the most difficult or hungry times. They were offered, as we know, throughout history and the value of a pot of gold to take it to Italy,” said Markoč.
Maria Markočphoto: Marija Pešić
That’s why, she continues, it’s important to her that even after 2250 years, she brings people together in Stari Bar, in Mirovica, but also awakens something innovative, contemporary, and inspiring in people from different industries.
She truly is the symbol of Bar, a protector, a nurturer, she says, and the greatest fear of all Barans was that they would be left without her, which did not happen, but she celebrates her birthday as a winner.
She pointed out that the event was particularly significant because it was supported by the Environmental Protection Agency, AD “Luka Ba”, “Vodovod i kanalizacija Bar”, Sports and Recreation Center and other sponsors, which makes her happy, because everyone at the local and state levels recognized the importance of this story.
This is just the beginning, she said, because they are planning numerous olive events in the next two months, some of which are traditional – the “Meetings under the Old Olive Tree” festival, the second edition of the “Montenegrin Sofra” event, the third edition of the “Intangible Heritage Days” event, as well as the publication of the “House of Olives” annual…
At this Friday’s event, Markoč said that the patron saint of Bar proudly stands above 2250 candles on the cake of life, which is made of both bile and honey.
That the Old Olive Tree has a soul, as wide as the blue sky above Bar, according to her, she proved to them in the year of her jubilee, by giving away the most valuable thing – her fruits, which will be transformed into the most sparkling drop of raspberry oil.
Guardian of peace, history and strength
Vice President of the Municipality of Bar, Tanja Spicanovic, said that in the tree and every branch of the Old Olive Tree, not only traces of years are gathered, but also people, fate, reconciliation and forgiveness. During the full 2250 years of its existence, she emphasized, there have been many – those who visited it, prayed to it, whom it fed and nurtured, sent off and welcomed, taught and educated.
“A silent observer of times long gone, but also of more recent ones, which are burdened with their own, yet still the same, adversities and fears. Our guardian of peace, history and the strength of life. Today, in her honor, we celebrate the root and the crown, because she teaches us that the root gives strength and the crown freedom. That the peaks are reached from depth and duration. Steadfast and proud, always celebrating the joy of life and fruitfulness, she bears witness to both transience and duration, reminding us how important it is to fulfill every moment and not let it go,” said Spičanović.
She thanked the “House of Olives” and its director for providing such a moment, which she said would be an inspiration for new generations to use that place to express admiration and respect for the Old Olive Tree, but also for every olive tree, and to send messages of love, peace, and freedom.
Miranović, the author of the collection, said that her impressions were more than positive, emphasizing that she was particularly inspired by this collection, which was made from natural materials.
“The tones, the colors, the brown that is the new black at the moment, as well as all the olive tones, from mint to olive, are very current. I was very inspired, I worked in natural materials. It was almost predominantly silk, but there were also linen models, because linen is associated with nature. There were 30 models, 30 mannequins. I wanted everything to be truly spectacular,” Miranović told “Vijesti”.
In addition to the show, the program also included a screening of the recording “Montenegrin Man and Montenegrin Woman”, a premiere choral performance of the song “Maslina je gora” sung by the “Antivari Musica” choir, and a dramatic artist Helena Đurović presented a performance in honor of the olive tree. The event was formally concluded with the screening of a short documentary about the work of the “House of Olives”.
Road to recovery
After it became public knowledge a year and a half ago that the Old Olive Tree on Mirovica was drying up and that its survival was questionable, after a year of intensive care for it, better news arrived from the “House of Olives” – it is recovering, every part of the tree is being cared for, and young shoots are growing even from the oldest part of the tree.
The old olive tree is a cultural and natural monument and one of the symbols of Bar.
It is protected by law, and in 2020 it was declared a protected area by the Municipal Assembly. The park and the area around the Old Olive Tree were reconstructed by a decision of the Bar Municipal Assembly in 2005.
In January last year, the condition of the Old Olive Tree sparked numerous debates and concerns about its health, both from local olive growers’ associations, the citizens of Bar, and the wider public. At the time, it was under the jurisdiction of the Cultural Center, which gave it to the Bar Olive Growers’ Association for management.
Local olive growers claimed that they had warned about the problems with the tree four years ago, but that the authorities had not listened.
Official addresses in Bar did not clarify who was responsible for the condition it was in at the time. After that, Stara maslina was given to the management of a new Bar-based company, “Kuća maslina”, from which, this February, they were pleased with good news, after a significant number of activities they had carried out since taking over management had borne fruit.
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