future elder thaddeus was born in vitovnitsa village, community petrovac-on-mlawa, located in braničevo district, in serbia on october 6 (19) 1914. the boy was born during the city fair, it was a premature birth and the child was very weak, so his parents hastened to baptise him. the memory of st. thomas was celebrated that day derfor the boy was christened tomislav. according to the legend the child opened his eyes only after the baptism ceremony.