Faith, history and community in Bosnia

Faith, history and community in Bosnia

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Bosnia's religious leaders say politicians are standing in the way of peaceful coexistence between Muslim, Jewish and Christian communities trying to forgive and forget after the atrocities of a devastating 1990s war.

. Trebinje, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Reuters/Dado Ruvic
The Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Cathedral dates to 1888.

Hundreds of churches, mosques and synagogues bear witness to more than five centuries of Bosnia's multi-faith past, and the capital Sarajevo is known locally as a "small Jerusalem" with its main ethnic groups - Orthodox Serbs, Catholic Croats and Muslim Bosniaks - all worshipping within metres of each other.

. Pocitelj, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Reuters/Dado Ruvic
Shishman Ibrahim Pasha Mosque dates to 1562 and is a single-dome mosque.

But Mufti Husein Kavazovic, head of the Islamic community in Bosnia, says people of faith cannot achieve peace alone.

"It is up to political elites to do more. For a start, it would be good that they stop their ideological manipulation of religion for their own political goals. It is up to us, of course, not to allow them to do that," he said.

. Travnik, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Reuters/Dado Ruvic
Sulejmanija Mosque dates to 1757.

Even though nationalists from all three ethnic groups still insist on exclusivity for their own groups, religious leaders are keen to heal rifts after the 1992-1995 war in which about 100,000 civilians were killed and millions displaced.

. Kraljeva Sutjeska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Reuters/Dado Ruvic
. Kraljeva Sutjeska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Reuters/Dado Ruvic

Friar Zeljko Brkic at Kraljeva Sutjeska - among the oldest Franciscan monasteries in Bosnia and dating from 1385 - said: "Bosnia can only survive as a multi-ethnic state, no matter how much politicians try to convince us that this is not possible."

His Orthodox, Jewish and Muslim peers agree.

. Zitomislici, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Reuters/Dado Ruvic

"It is very important that we have here different cultures and religions, and that based on that we can easily build and verify our own identities," said Nektarije, a deacon at the Orthodox monastery Zitomislici in what is now the Catholic Croat-dominated southern part of the country.

. Zitomislici, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Reuters/Dado Ruvic
. Zitomislici, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Reuters/Dado Ruvic

Right: Zitomislic Serbian Orthodox monastery dates to 1566 and took more than 40 years to complete.

Jakob Finci, the president of the Jewish community in Bosnia, gives Sarajevo as an example of close cooperation, citing Muslims there helping Jews to hide during World War Two and Jews providing food for people of all faiths in the three-year siege by Bosnian Serb forces.

. Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Reuters/Dado Ruvic
The Sarajevo Ashkenazi Synagogue was designed by architect Karel Parik and built in 1902.

"Sarajevo is the best proof that living together is possible and that it represents the only way of life for us," he said.

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Supervising architect Josip Vancas modelled the 19th century Sacred Heart Cathedral after Notre-Dame in Dijon, France.
. Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Reuters/Dado Ruvic

Supervising architect Josip Vancas modelled the 19th century Sacred Heart Cathedral after Notre-Dame in Dijon, France.

Sacred Heart Cathedral.
. Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Reuters/Dado Ruvic

Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Serbian poet Jovan Ducic (1871-1943) is buried at Orthodox Temple Hercegovacka Gracanica. He was originally buried at Saint Sava Orthodox monastery in Libertyville, U.S. but was reinterred at Hercegovacka Gracanica when the temple opened in 2000 in accordance with his wish.
. Trebinje, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Reuters/Dado Ruvic

Serbian poet Jovan Ducic (1871-1943) is buried at Orthodox Temple Hercegovacka Gracanica. He was originally buried at Saint Sava Orthodox monastery in Libertyville, U.S. but was reinterred at Hercegovacka Gracanica when the temple opened in 2000 in accordance with his wish.

Shishman Ibrahim Pasha Mosque dates to 1562 and is a single-dome mosque.
. Pocitelj, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Reuters/Dado Ruvic

Shishman Ibrahim Pasha Mosque dates to 1562 and is a single-dome mosque.

Sarajevo Ashkenazi Synagogue dates to 1902. "For Jews as members of a minority ethnic and religious group in Bosnia and Herzegovina, multiculturalism is a positive thing, because it is very important to have this kind of diversity," said Igor Kozemjakin, rabbi's assistant.
. Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Reuters/Dado Ruvic

Sarajevo Ashkenazi Synagogue dates to 1902. "For Jews as members of a minority ethnic and religious group in Bosnia and Herzegovina, multiculturalism is a positive thing, because it is very important to have this kind of diversity," said Igor Kozemjakin, rabbi's assistant.

"Sulejmanija Mosque in Travnik is famous because it has many different colours inside. You can compare that with different religions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnia is beautiful and colourful precisely because of its multiculturalism. That is the true value of this country, which we should preserve and nurture," effendi Ibranovic Dzemail said.
. Travnik, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Reuters/Dado Ruvic

"Sulejmanija Mosque in Travnik is famous because it has many different colours inside. You can compare that with different religions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnia is beautiful and colourful precisely because of its multiculturalism. That is the true value of this country, which we should preserve and nurture," effendi Ibranovic Dzemail said.

The Sephardi Synagogue dates to 1581 and was funded by a donation from Turkish Pasha Beylerbey Sijamush.
. Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Reuters/Dado Ruvic

The Sephardi Synagogue dates to 1581 and was funded by a donation from Turkish Pasha Beylerbey Sijamush.

Zitomislic Serbian Orthodox Monastery dates to 1566 and took more than 40 years to complete.
. Zitomislici, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Reuters/Dado Ruvic

Zitomislic Serbian Orthodox Monastery dates to 1566 and took more than 40 years to complete.

An entrance leads to an underground church and crypt which dates to the end of 14th century. Bosnian duke, Hrvoje Vukcic Hrvatinic, had the site built as a final resting place for himself and his family.
. Jajce, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Reuters/Dado Ruvic

An entrance leads to an underground church and crypt which dates to the end of 14th century. Bosnian duke, Hrvoje Vukcic Hrvatinic, had the site built as a final resting place for himself and his family.

The Old Church is the oldest preserved catholic church in Bosnia and Herzegovina and is dedicated to St. Michael, the patron saint of the parish of Vares.
. Vares, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Reuters/Dado Ruvic

The Old Church is the oldest preserved catholic church in Bosnia and Herzegovina and is dedicated to St. Michael, the patron saint of the parish of Vares.

This week, about 120 leaders from 27 countries arrived in Sarajevo to take part in a meeting of the youth-led Muslim Jewish Conference, founded by Ilja Sichrovski in Vienna in 2010.

"We feel at home here," Sichrovski said.

. Travnik, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Reuters/Dado Ruvic
Detail on a wall at Sulejmanija Mosque.