On Friday, the President of the Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, congratulated the opening of the Museum and Gallery Space at the Marija Zvijezda Monastery in Banja Luka, emphasizing that it was an important event and a gift to this city.
– We will work together and I believe that we will already be discussing the construction of a large center in Slatina in January. We have previously discussed this and have not given up on the idea. I believe that we will reach our goal – said Dodik in his address at the opening ceremony.
The President of Srpska thanked the Prime Minister of Croatia, Andrej Plenković, for coming, as well as the Chairperson of the Council of Ministers and others.
Plenković pointed out that the opening of the Museum and Gallery Space demonstrates an inseparable part of the identity of this region, which is European, Christian, universal, and even Croatian.
– The Trappists left their mark, they provided a school and prospects for abandoned children, and there were a number of economic activities that contributed to the development of this region. This is important for Croats in the Banja Luka diocese. This community is very widespread in both the Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina – said Plenković.
He thanked Banja Luka Bishop Željko Majić and congratulated him on the opening of the Museum and Gallery space in this monastery.
The Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers, Borjana Krišto, stated that the opening of the gallery space contributes to spreading messages of peace and building coexistence.
Krišto emphasized that this festive event has historical and spiritual significance, and that the opening of this gallery space contributes to the enrichment of the tradition, not only of the people, but also of the Banja Luka region.
The Marija Zvijezda Monastery was built at the end of the 19th century in Banja Luka.
It was founded by the Catholic monastic order of Trappists, after whom the entire area later got its name.
The Trappists are known as the initiators of beer and cheese production, as well as electricity production in Banja Luka, as they also built the first hydroelectric power plant.
Source: ba.ekapija.com
