MINIĆ: WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH DURING THIS MAJOR INVESTMENT CYCLE

TESLIĆ, SEPTEMBER 11 /SRNA/ - Republika Srpska has not forgotten the Serbian Orthodox Church during its major investment cycle, Prime Minister Savo Minić said during a visit to the parish house under construction in Teslić, dedicated to King Dragutin and located in the grounds of the Church of the Holy Trinity.

Minić stressed that the Serbian Orthodox Church is a bond that should unite the Serb people and that the facility being built in Teslić is more than just a spiritual center.

"We also plan for our youngest to be here. We want to put our Serbian Orthodox Church at the center, in every sense of the word, and I take every opportunity to call on our clergy to bring us together, because that is very important. A person who believes in nothing does not believe in himself either," Minić said.

After inspecting the construction site together with Serb member of the BiH Presidency Željka Cvijanović, for which the Government of Republika Srpska has allocated BAM 1.2 million, Minić said he was very pleased that so much had been accomplished in such a short time.

"We agreed that we would continue to visit the site, and we can easily continue to support this construction financially. Now it is up to the builders," Minić said.

Cvijanović said that the institutions of Republika Srpska had invested significant funds here precisely to build the parish house and demonstrate their commitment to faith and unity around tradition, with the intention that it serve future generations.

"We are satisfied as a generation of people who, through institutional work, have been able to contribute to building churches and facilities like this throughout Republika Srpska, as well as roads, highways, schools, kindergartens, student dormitories, bridges and everything necessary for the lives of our citizens," Cvijanović said.

Archpriest of the Teslić Deanery Miladin Vuković said that the works were progressing according to schedule and that one completed phase would be finished before the end of autumn.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for all the support we have received from them, with the hope that we will cooperate even more closely in the coming period and that they will visit the facility more often," Father Miladin said.

He added that efforts were being made to continue construction during the winter as well, if the weather allows it.

"Next year, we will continue with the aim of reaching the roof," priest Vuković said.