Čuvari Hristovog Groba (Serbian Cyrillic: Чувари Хрстовог гроба; "Guardians of Christ's Grave") refers to a religious/cultural practice of guarding a representation of Christ's grave on Good Friday in the Church of St. Nicholas by the Serbian Orthodox inhabitants in the town of Vrlika in Northern Dalmatia, Croatia and Batajnica, Serbia.
Undoubtedly a long tradition, the practice of guarding Christ's grave is embedded in the history of Vrlika and its Orthodox Christian inhabitants.
There are frequent changing of the guards' places, and they march quietly through the church unobtrusively, in solid piety, until they take their seats and stare at the Holy Shroud.
The custom originates from folk piety and do not disturb the harmony of church prayers, but embellishes the liturgy with elements of warrior dignity.
[3] A guardian of the tomb can only be an honourable and devout Serbian Orthodox male from Vrlika and its nine surrounding villages.