FRANCISCAN MONASTERY IN FOJNICA BEING RECONSTRUCTED

FOJNICA, Aug 5 (Hina) - The reconstruction of the Franciscan monastery in Fojnica, central Bosnia, has commenced. This monastery along with the other two Franciscan monasteries in Kresevo and Kraljeva Sutjeska managed to survive during over 500 years of the Osmanli Rule in this part of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Fojnica Monastery's guardian, Friar Janko Ljubos, said on Thursday that housing facilities would be first repaired. After that, the museum, the library and the church should be reconstructed if sufficient financial means can be ensured. Repairs are being carried out by Croat returnees, while money is being raised through donations. The Fojnica Monastery's museum houses invaluable cultural wealth. There is a cloak of Friar Andjeo Zvizdovic, who managed to receive a document from Sultan Mehmed Fatih for the freedom of preaching the Catholic religion, in 1463. This decree of Sultan, known as Ahdnama, is also preserved in the museum. Visitors can see two incunabula and several thousands of old books in Fojnica. During the Moslem-Croat conflict in 1993, (Moslem-dominated) Bosnian Army expelled most of local Croats, and killed the then Guardian, Friar Nikica Milicevic and Vicar, Friar Leon Magdic, at the entrance to the Monastery. (hina) ms