Ilija Okrugić

Who was Ilija Okrugić?

Ilija Okrugić-Srijemac was a Croatian poet and play wright from Syrmia, one of members of Croatian national renaissance and a Catholic priest.

Ilija Okrugić was born in Sremski Karlovci, in the family that worked in administration.

He went to elementary school in Sremski Karlovci, and studied theology later in Đakovo.

Bishop Josip Juraj Strossmayer ordained him as a priest. Okrugić was in the first generation of the priests that Strossmayer ordained, so they remained in more friendly relations, that reflected in Okrugić's works.

He served as chaplain and vicar in various places in Syrmia and Slavonia; in Zemun, Kukujevci, Sot, Sarvaš, Levanjska Varoš, also was a prebendar in Đakovo, in the major church of the bishopric.

The last phase of his service was in Petrovaradin, from 1866 till his death. He had a title of abbot of St. Demetrius.

He worked with in Zora dalmatinska of Ante Kuzmanić and Danica of Ljudevit Gaj, but also in other Croatian press.