The Christianity has been actively present in the island's life for already two millennium. The Catholic church history is an important part of the island's history overall.

In the fourth century, especially after Milan's edict (313), when the emperor Constantine gave freedom to the Christians, whole Dalmatia accepted the Christian faith. Obviously, Solta was not the exception in that process. The best proof are the remains of a beautiful Christian basilica next to St. Stjepan Church in Grohote village. It is estimated that the basilica was built end of 5th or beginning of the 6th century. It is also assumed that the majority of the original island population were baptized at the time since the Dalmatia itself went through the same process.

In the 7th century Solta was inhabited by the new Christians, i.e. those who took refuge from Salona, after Salona was attacked by the Avars and Slavens. The refugees settled down in surrounding towns and islands, especially Brac, Solta, Hvar and Vis, and later in the Diocletian Palace in Split. At that time, Dalmatia was still under influence of the Byzantine Empire and Eastern Church, so Solta was part of it.

The Christian Croat peasants inhabited the island between the 9th and 13th century: some of them to serve the Benedictin priests and the noblemen on the island and some of them out of fear from Tatars and plague which was typical for the urban areas in Middle Ages.

Benedicts Holly Order was the only Christian order on the island. It was the priest of St. Benedict who baptized Croats on the mainland before they settled on Solta. At that time, the Benedicts were the most important religious, cultural and economical power in the Church. The closest Benedictin's center to Solta was the St. Stjepan Monastery in Split (known as Sustipan, St. Stephanus de Pinis). The center had its adjunct monasteries and huge land properties on Solta. It is assumed that Parochial Church in Grohote village was patroned by this very Benedictin center, since its transcript from the 17th century: ecclesia st.Stephani de pinis in villa Grohote, indicates so. The small island of Stipanska which belonged to Solta was also probably named after the same Monastery. The remains have been kept to nowadays.

The greatest impact made by the Benedictins on the island was the one in Vela Straza locality, in the Stomorija Monastery (the Monastery name comes from croatised St. Maria). It is assume that the church was built in 13th century, maybe even before. There are excavation of gothic church St. Petar and the remains of the Benedictin Monastery attached to it in Supetar, near Necujam. The islands churches, as well as the island villages were badly damaged in 1241, when the Prince of Omis, OSOR KACIC, and his pirates invaded the island. Basilica in Grohote was the most damaged one, it was burnt to the ground.

Besides these major churches built in Middle Ages, there were smaller ones which are worth while of mentioning. There is St. Mihovil church which was built in 14th century, maybe even before. The church has been preserved as well as fresco paintings in the inside.

At the end of Middle Ages, there were four settlements on Solta: Grohote, Gornje Selo, Srednje Selo, Donje Selo and two parishes. Grohote, Srednje Selo and Donje Selo made one parish, and Gornje Selo alone the other one. The Holly Benedictin Order from Stomorija looked after the Gornje Selo villagers, while the villagers from the other parish were looked after by the Benedictin priest which did not belong to Stomorija Monastery. The vicar was elected by villagers: the elections were confirmed by Split's archbishop.

At the end of Middle Ages, Brotherhoods were also established by the village representatives. They were established with the objective to protect the rights of villagers and to fight against upper classes violence. Brotherhoods existed in Split - (FOOTNOTE: In Split a large number of noblemen, citizens and commoners were members of the BROTHERHOOD. They took care of their own church, and in that popular way, nurtured various deities such as Holy Sacraments; the Patron Saints of Split, St. Domninus and St. Anastasius; Holy Cross, etc. They also had social goals such as: helping those with problems, caring for homeless or poor patients and the elderly (the Brotherhood of the Holy Ghost founded a charity hospital), organizing honorary funerals and burial of the poor and casual strangers (for this they specifically founded the Brotherhood of Good Death). Every year, the members of the Brotherhood elected a new administration; under special signs they took part in the ceremonial processions (members of some Brotherhoods dressed in special tunics); on holidays they recited the LIFE of their protector and arranged a modest feast. Most of these Brotherhoods were dissolved by the French government and, with new waves of changes in social life, they fell deeper into trouble.) - in 12th century and this is where Solta's brotherhoods probably originate from.

In Modern Age a new influx of Christians took place. They were refugees originating mostly from Bosnia, Herzegovina, an continental Dalmatia who escaped from Turkish regime. They inhabited Solta between XVI and XVIII century.

This was a period also known for the Venetian rule in Dalmatia when the actual italianization of the local population started and resulted in their loss of economical power and influence. In addition, previously discussed brotherhoods faced the period of prosperity while the Benedictin Holly Order faced decadence (this was not typical of Dalmatia only; but of Europe in general).

At the time Solta's Benedictin Holly Order undergone the same processes. Stipanska Monastery had been abandoned already; Stomorija was inhabited by hermits till 1811 ever since the Pope decided to give the lands owned by the Benedictins to Split archdeacon in 1452; and in Supetar there were no monasteries any longer but the small and forgotten church. The land around the church was used by Balisrilic family from Split. Marko Marulic, the famous poet from Split, lived in the Balisrilics' house for two years to write and pray in peace.

Simultaneously, new settlements appeared like the one in Stomorska (XII century). It belonged to Gornje Selo Parish. Its first inhabitants were two families: the Bucic-Vidans (the shipmakers from the Hvar island) and the Novakovics (peasants from Tugare). Later on, the settlement was also inhabited by the new-comers from the main land and other islands who jointly built the St. Nikola's church and constituted brotherhood under the same name.

In 1706 a new settlement, Maslinica, was established by the noble Marchi family. They bought the land, built a castle, colonized peasants from continental Dalmatia and Herzegovina and built the St. Nikola's church in 1708. The Maslinica's population constituted their own St. Nikola's brotherhood. The inscription made in the Church's stone gate which follows has been well preserved till nowadays:

O. A. M. D. C.
OMNIA AD MAIOREM DEI GLORIAE
SACELLVM HOC DIVO NICOLAO DICATVM
A FVNDAMENTIS INSPAVRARE FECERVNT
IOA: PETRVS GEORGIVS & IOA: FRATRES
MARCHY DOMNY FILY NICOLAI NEPO ANO:
DNI 1706 MENSE MARTIO. VIATOR FVNDE
PIAS PRECES AD DEVM PRO DEFVNCTIS &
VIVENTIBVS MARCHYS MDCCVI

All the island villages had their own brotherhoods which were of religious and social character. There is only one brotherhood matricula preserved. That is the St. Stjepan's brotherhood matricula from Grohote, dated 1561. It is written in Croatian (latinic letter).

In XVIII and XIX century new families inhabit Solta. They were families of sailors and tradesmen from Dalmatian cities and islands. Some of them also moved from Italy.

In 1700 the mass was spoken in Latin language.

From XIX century until the Second World War the population of Solta is continuously growing even though, in the period prior to the First World War there were those who emigrated to the continent (Split, Zadar, Trst) and overseas to USA, Canada and Australia.

The Second World War harmed Solta's church and population badly. The island was occupied by Italians and Germans; it was bombarded and finally completely depopulated. Churches were damaged, some of them were completely devastated and robbed, the graveyards were desecrated.

After the Second World War, the New state constitution separated the Church from the State; catechism was moved out of schools and introduced into church's. All damaged churches were reconstructed. Grohote's church got its new church-tower. Old brotherhoods are smaller, but still continue to function. There are no other religious communities or constitutions. In 1982 a small church museum was opened in one of St. Stjepan's sacristies in Grohote.

Tea Blagaic