The Mlava divides Malo Crniće into two roughly equal parts; the town lies in the river valley. The town’s history has two precisely named historical landmarks: the Church of St. Ignatius the God-Bearer (Crkva Svetog Ignjatija Bogonosca) and the steam-powered flour mill “Parni mlin I. Bajlona i sinova.” FEDRAS and Stig Fest add theater and folklore to this picture.
Church and mill: two historical periods
The Church of St. Ignatius the God-Bearer (Crkva Svetog Ignjatija Bogonosca) was built in 1892; its construction is attributed to the industrialist Anton I. Bajloni. Metropolitan Mihailo solemnly consecrated it on September 18, 1894. The year 1892 marks the construction, while the exact date in 1894 marks the consecration. The church is designated a cultural monument. It provides a concrete religious point of reference in the town’s history, with its construction and consecration taking place at different times.
According to a surviving document, the steam-powered flour mill “Parni mlin I. Bajlona i sinova” began operating before 1869. Its recorded start of operations therefore predates the church’s construction in 1892. The two dates offer different perspectives on Malo Crniće: one concerns the start of an industrial operation, the other the construction of a religious building and its later consecration. This makes it possible to distinguish the history of the mill from the church’s construction history.
Two festivals, different focuses
FEDRAS was founded in 1972 to promote theater in the villages of the Stig and Pomoravlje regions. To date, more than 400 competition performances have been presented at the festival; participants include Serbia’s best amateur theater groups. FEDRAS also brings together poets, painters, musicians, and other cultural practitioners from Serbia. Discussions focus mainly on amateur theater in Serbian villages. The festival thus combines competition performances with conversations about theater and a broader cultural program.
Stig Fest was founded by the Cultural Center and the Municipality of Malo Crniće. It brings together folklore ensembles from Serbia and abroad and promotes traditional dances, songs, and customs. A report dated December 15, 2025 describes the two-day international format, established since 2021: one day of the program is held in Malo Crniće, the other in a nearby settlement. For trip planning, the distinction between the themes is useful: FEDRAS is about amateur theater and cultural exchange, while Stig Fest focuses on folklore.
Plan your journey and stay
If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Malo Crniće, you can plan your travel dates around your reason for visiting. For a festival trip, coordinate your stay with the specific event dates; if your focus is local history, the church and the mill offer different historical themes. A description from 2023 lists the Požarevac–Petrovac road as a route to Malo Crniće. Check current road conditions before setting out.
Discover more destinations: Opština Petrovac Na Mlavi, Kisiljevo, Vinci, Kučevo, Golubac, Žagubica, Ribare, Brzohode.
For the broader travel overview: Braničevo District.
