MOSTAR'S CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL HERITAGE PRESENTED IN BANJA LUKA

BANJA LUKA, NOVEMBER 2 /SRNA/ – Mostar’s rich Serb cultural and spiritual heritage was presented in Banja Luka this evening. More than a century ago, Mostar was one of the most important Serb literary centers. The presentation covered Žitomislić Monastery, the work of the Mostar branch of "Prosvjeta", the poet Aleksa Šantić and included an exhibition about the magazine "Zora".

The President of the Mostar City Board of "Prosvjeta", Sanja Bjelica Šagovnović, told SRNA that the aim was to introduce the Banja Luka public to the society's work on preserving Serb culture, history and identity.

"Our wish is to preserve with dignity what has been left to us and to create new values in our culture, while also protecting our rich cultural heritage," she said.

She added that "Prosvjeta" works with the Serbian Orthodox Church to organize many cultural and educational events, including the "Šantić Poetry Evenings", the St. Sava Sermon and the Christmas Concert.

The Abbot of Žitomislić Monastery, Danilo, said the monastery is one of the most important spiritual centers of Orthodox Serbs in Herzegovina, the Neretva Valley and beyond. He added that throughout history it has played an important role in nurturing the culture of the Serb people.

He reminded that the monastery was razed to the ground in the last war and was rebuilt between 2002 and 2005.

He stressed that the monastery holds one of the most important art collections in BiH. It includes icons from the 16th to the 19th century, manuscripts and early printed books, the oldest of them from the 14th century, and many other works of art.

Abbot Danilo added that a museum opened at the monastery in 2019. Two years later, the "Žitomislić Museum" Foundation was established, and it organizes exhibitions, book launches, theatre performances and panel discussions on current topics.

"We strive to present what we have and to foster multicultural dialogue in Mostar," Abbot Danilo said.

The Director of Milanović House, Duško Pevulja, said the exhibition "130 Years of Zora" marks 130 years since the founding of the magazine, which was published in Mostar from 1896 to 1901.

"'Zora' is a testament to an unusual time. Mostar was then one of the three most important Serb centers, and young, exceptionally gifted people started the magazine and published it for five years in a small community where Serbs were not the majority," Pevulja said.

He emphasized that cultural historians call this period the Mostar cultural miracle. In its content and concept, he said, the magazine still stands shoulder to shoulder with modern publications.

The exhibition "130 Years of Zora" will be open to visitors for the next 15 days at Milanović House in Banja Luka.