Vukaà ¡in Mandrapa (; died 1942 or 1943), also known as Vukaà ¡in of Klepci () is venerated as a Serbian Orthodox saint who was allegedly murdered in the Jasenovac concentration camp. His historical existence is disputed due to a lack of evidence. The sole source for his existence is the account of Nedo Zec, a neurologist who was a prisoner at the camp.
The sole account of his life and martyrdom originates from Nedo Zec, a neuropsychiatrist who was a "free prisoner" in the Jasenovac concentration camp. Zec recounted a testimony an Ustaà ¡a executioner made to him in January 1943, claiming that he had murdered Mandrapa.
According to one version of events, Mandrapa was a farmer and merchant from Klepci, living in Sarajevo. Other sources claim his surname was Toholj and that he was from Lokve. The year of his death is also disputed, with sources citing either 1942 or 1943.
Historian argues that there is no historical evidence for Mandrapa's existence, while the philosopher Aleksandar Praà ¾iàargues that Zec's account is fictional.
According to Zec's testimony from 1970, Mandrapa was singled out by an Ustaà ¡a executioner, allegedly named Friganovià(Josip or Mile), due to his stoic behavior during forced labour and mass executions. Friganoviàallegedly attempted to compel Mandrapa to bless the Ustaà ¡e leader Ante PaveliÃÂ. Mandrapa refused to do so, even after Friganoviàhad allegedly cut off both his ears and nose after each refusal. After ordering him to shout "Long live PaveliÃÂ!" for a fourth time and threatening to take his heart out with a knife, Mandrapa looked at Friganoviàand calmly stated "Do your job child". Friganoviàthen allegedly cut out Mandrapa's eyes, tore out his heart, and slit his throat.
FriganoviÃÂ told Zec that this was in the context of a killing contest he waged with Petar Brzica and other camp commanders, and boasted that by then he had slaughtered some 1,100 inmates. According to Zec, this act caused FriganoviÃÂ to break down psychologically, leading to his inability to continue killing that night and requiring psychiatric treatment.
The philosopher Aleksandar Praà ¾iàargues that Zec's account is fictional.
He was canonized as a saint and neomartyr by the Serbian Orthodox Church in 1998, as Saint Vukaà ¡in of Klepci (). His feast day is commemorated on , also being commemorated with the New Martyrs of Jasenovac on .