Serbs all over the world intend to build a temple to replace the one demolished by the will of the Bosniak old woman

Well-known Serbian figures from the Republika Srpska, Serbia and Montenegro called on their fellow tribesmen to unite in order to restore demolished in the village of Konevich-Pole Orthodox Church.

A new temple may be built in the neighboring town of Bratunac, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.

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“We are inspired by the fact that our believing people, as well as some Orthodox foundations, are already uniting around the idea of ​​restoring the church,” wrote the mayor of the capital of Republika Srpska, Banja Luka, Drasko Satnivukovic, on his Facebook page. – We must provide all possible support, which is the duty of the largest city in the Republika Srpska. Shrines cannot be destroyed. Shrines are preserved, restored and built.”

In turn, the Lazaritsa Foundation began collecting funds for the construction of a new church.

“Our foundation is committed to building a new and larger church on the same site and starting tomorrow begins collecting funds for this feat,” Lazaritsa said in a statement on the organization’s Twitter page.

At the same time, despite such a statement, information has appeared that a new temple may not be built in Konevic Polje, but in the neighboring town of Bratunac, since there is no place to build a church in the village itself.

“I will refrain from making any other comments, I will only say that demolishing religious buildings is shameful, no matter who does it,” commented on the incident the leader of the coalition “For the Future of Montenegro” of the Serbian party “Correct Montenegro”, which is part of the parliamentary majority faction. – And we in Montenegro are obliged to talk about this, because when we defended the shrines, we received help and solidarity from all sides, including from Bratunac and Konevic Polje...

I will make a donation for the construction of a new church... and I will do it publicly only to send an official message to the Montenegrin parliament. “I call on my colleagues in the parliament of Montenegro and colleagues in the parliaments of the Republic of Serbia, Republika Srpska, to demonstrate the unity of our people, wherever they live, because what happened has hurt our souls and hearts.”

For his part, Bishop Sergius of Bihac and Petrovac gave a sharp and fair assessment of the incident that occurred in Konevic Polje.

“The demolition of the Church of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist in Konevich Polje took place in accordance with legal norms in accordance with court decisions, as well as with the blessing of church and state authorities. They said “yes” in order to destroy justice, so that the terrible scene of the destruction of the temple in this unfortunate country would further fuel the fraternal hatred of the Serbs and Bosniaks... If the right to justice has triumphed here, then the appropriate question is: will we demolish mosques, also illegally built on the foundations of Orthodox Christians? churches against the will of the previous owners? Will we demolish houses built on the ruins of demolished monasteries and parish churches? On church land on which the Turks, Austro-Hungarians, and also during the times of the SFRY built?.

The Bishop believes that the demolition of the temple in Konevich-Pole “is the most striking symbol of misfortune in this country.”

“While one rejoices and celebrates, justifying this with the victory of the right, the other watches with pain and sadness the scene of the demolition of the Orthodox prayer house, the only purpose and meaning of which was to offer prayers to the Lord, the Father of all unfortunates - both Serbs and Bosniaks,” - said the bishop.

Let us recall that the Church of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist in the village of Konevic Polje of the Republic of Srpska BiH was demolished according to the decision of the European Court of Human Rights on the claim of the Bosniak pensioner Fata Orlović.

Fata Orlović and her seven children fled Republika Srpska in the early 90s after her husband Sacir went to fight for Bosniak separatists. He was subsequently captured and shot. When the final partition of BiH took place under the Dayton Accords, many Muslim Bosniaks and Croats moved to Federation territory, and Serbs accordingly moved to the RS.

Not far from the empty house of the Orlovichs, an Orthodox church was erected on the plot of land. Returning to her native village in 2000, the militant’s widow began a legal battle with the SOC, and waged it for twenty years, considering it her life’s work. She refused the compromise options offered to her.