The photography exhibition “Wooden Churches of Republika Srpska – Guardians of Spiritual Life and National Consciousness” by author Stanko Kostić will open on Thursday, February 6, at the Gallery of Science and Technology of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SANU) in Belgrade, as announced by the gallery.
This exhibition, running until March 1, is a continuation of a research series on Serb folk architecture, documenting wooden churches across Serbia. The series began in late 2023 with the exhibition “Wooden Churches – Guardians of Tradition.”
“Captured from the photographer’s unique perspective, these images provide a significant contribution to a deeper understanding of artistic currents in Republika Srpska, particularly in ecclesiastical spaces that have only recently attracted the interest of both experts and the broader public,” said SANU corresponding member Igor Borozan.
According to Borozan, a large number of wooden churches in Republika Srpska, under the jurisdiction of the Serb Orthodox Church and falling within the Metropolitanate of Dabar-Bosna and the Dioceses of Banja Luka, Zahumlje-Herzegovina and the Littoral, and Zvornik-Tuzla, represent an essential testament to the spiritual and national identity of the Serb people and Orthodox believers west of the Drina River.
“Of particular interest are the wooden churches from the 19th and 20th centuries, which, as both material and religious landmarks, testify to the continuity of traditional construction over a long period. These often small structures have, over time, become places of remembrance, confirming the strength of folk craftsmanship and securing the cultural heritage of the Serb people, often in unfavorable political circumstances. Their function has thus extended beyond serving merely as places of worship,” Borozan noted in the exhibition catalog.
He emphasized that Kostić’s work, viewed through the lens of photography, remains a valuable resource for further research by scientists and cultural experts.
“For the first time, the complete number of wooden churches and their artistic works in Republika Srpska has been documented, highlighting the important role of these structures in the cultural and historical narrative of the Serb and Orthodox population in the region,” Borozan concluded.
Source: RTRS
