Boniface of Ragusa

Boniface of Ragusa ( in Lopud – 6 February 1582 in Timișoara) was a Franciscan Custos of the Holy Land in Jerusalem, writer, who served as Bishop of Ston (1564–1582).

Biography

Destefanis' other names include Bonifacije Stefanić Drakolica, Darcoliza, Drakolica, Crassa, Grassa, Ragusinus, Stephani, Drkoličić and Stjepanović.

Destefanis was ordained a priest in the Order of Friars Minor. In 1551–1559 and 1564, he was Custodian of the Holy Land. Allegedly, he participated in the last time the Holy Sepulchre was opened in 1555. He obtained permission to restore parts of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and to build a completely new edicule. This was a major restoration project, and the Franciscan left a detailed description of the work carried out. On 17 Nov 1564, he was appointed by Pope Pius IV as Bishop of Ston. Before this trip, based on the Pope's instructions, Destefanis visited the Franciscan province in Bosnia. On 15 December 1580 Destefanis reported to Rome that he met the bishop of Smederevo, fra Nikola Ugrinović, during his journey to Bosnia. Since there were only five Catholic families in Smederevo, Destefanis proposed to move Ugrinović to Skradin.

He served as Bishop of Ston until he died in 1582.

Works De perenni Cultu Terrae Sanctae (1555), Venice 1572 Liber De perenni Cultu Terrae Sanctae Et De Fructuosa eius Peregrinatione, Venice 1573