Franciscan monastery of Saint Luke, Jajce
Encyclopedia
Franciscan monastery of Saint Luke is a Franciscan
monastery in Jajce
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
. The construction began in 1877 and it finished in 1885. In 1934-1935 the monastery was renovated by Karel Pařík. Franciscans in the 1970s tried to return the bones of St. Luke in Jajce, and since then the monastery carries the name of this evangelist.
Franciscans were present in Jajce from the Middle Ages
, it is known that they had the St. Mary's Church with the St Luke's bell tower in the 15th century. The church was turned into a mosque at the arrival of the Turks. The bell tower is fully preserved, while the church was burnt down many times and now it is just a ruin.
In 1888, the archeologist Ćiro Truhelka
excavated a male skeleton with the skull separated from the body. The excavation was made on a hill that is called Kraljev grob (King's tomb) in Zastinje near Jajce
, under a stećak
. All indirect indications confirm that the skeleton belongs to Stephen Tomašević of Bosnia, the last king of Bosnia. The skeleton lies in the monastery.
The monastery has many artworks, like the St. Family with St. John the Baptist picture that was made in the 17th century by a unknown Italo-Greek artist. Also, there are many other items that are culturally and artistically significant. In particular there is the old Gothic
silver chalice from the 16th century.
There are also historical items, such as many Roman
monuments found in Šipovo
and many Early Christian and Medieval monuments.
The monastery has a small library with many valuable books, magazines and manuscripts from the 18th and 19th century.
The monastery has suffered during the Bosnian War
. The monastery church was completely destroyed, it is also missing a lot of valuable monuments, artworks and books. Currently, the old part of the monastery is being renewed.
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
monastery in Jajce
Jajce
Jajce is a city and municipality located in the central part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is part of the Central Bosnia Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity...
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
. The construction began in 1877 and it finished in 1885. In 1934-1935 the monastery was renovated by Karel Pařík. Franciscans in the 1970s tried to return the bones of St. Luke in Jajce, and since then the monastery carries the name of this evangelist.
Franciscans were present in Jajce from the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, it is known that they had the St. Mary's Church with the St Luke's bell tower in the 15th century. The church was turned into a mosque at the arrival of the Turks. The bell tower is fully preserved, while the church was burnt down many times and now it is just a ruin.
In 1888, the archeologist Ćiro Truhelka
Ciro Truhelka
Ćiro Truhelka was a Croatian archaeologist.Truhelka finished grade school and gymnasium in Osijek and went to university in Zagreb. He was the first custodian of the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
excavated a male skeleton with the skull separated from the body. The excavation was made on a hill that is called Kraljev grob (King's tomb) in Zastinje near Jajce
Jajce
Jajce is a city and municipality located in the central part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is part of the Central Bosnia Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity...
, under a stećak
Stećci
The Stećci , are monumental medieval tombstones that lie scattered across Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the border parts of Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia. An estimated 60,000 are found within the borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the rest of 10,000 are found in Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro...
. All indirect indications confirm that the skeleton belongs to Stephen Tomašević of Bosnia, the last king of Bosnia. The skeleton lies in the monastery.
The monastery has many artworks, like the St. Family with St. John the Baptist picture that was made in the 17th century by a unknown Italo-Greek artist. Also, there are many other items that are culturally and artistically significant. In particular there is the old Gothic
Gothic art
Gothic art was a Medieval art movement that developed in France out of Romanesque art in the mid-12th century, led by the concurrent development of Gothic architecture. It spread to all of Western Europe, but took over art more completely north of the Alps, never quite effacing more classical...
silver chalice from the 16th century.
There are also historical items, such as many Roman
Roman art
Roman art has the visual arts made in Ancient Rome, and in the territories of the Roman Empire. Major forms of Roman art are architecture, painting, sculpture and mosaic work...
monuments found in Šipovo
Šipovo
Šipovo is a town and municipality in central Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is situated in the western part of the Republika Srpska entity and the southern part of the Bosanska Krajina region. The municipality covers an area of , much of which is forested. The Glogovac monastery of the Serb Orthodox...
and many Early Christian and Medieval monuments.
The monastery has a small library with many valuable books, magazines and manuscripts from the 18th and 19th century.
The monastery has suffered during the Bosnian War
Bosnian War
The Bosnian War or the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between April 1992 and December 1995. The war involved several sides...
. The monastery church was completely destroyed, it is also missing a lot of valuable monuments, artworks and books. Currently, the old part of the monastery is being renewed.