DODIK: HOLY SITES RESTORATION PROOF THAT PEOPLE’S SPIRIT CANNOT BE DESTROYED

PAKRAC, SEPTEMBER 7 /SRNA/ – The President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik has stated today in Pakrac that the restoration of sacred sites proves that the spirit of a people cannot be destroyed.

"As we were arriving in Pakrac today, we saw many devastated and abandoned villages, which looks sad. But then you come here, where a church has been restored, and you experience a kind of spiritual healing in the realization that they did not kill the spirit, they did not erase our presence here," Dodik told reporters in Pakrac. Dodik emphasized the great importance of restoring spiritual life to this part of Slavonia, so that Pakrac may once again regain the significance it has always held for the Serbian Orthodox people. "The many believers gathered here today prove that this region lives on in the memory of the people, which is the most important thing. It's essential that we know where we can come, where we can gather, where we can continue our existence through the Serbian Orthodox Church and our spiritual and cultural growth," Dodik added. Earlier today, the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity in Pakrac was consecrated after its restoration. The church was heavily damaged during the 1990s wars and remained neglected for a long period. The restoration, which lasted several years, was the result of the collective effort, faith, and the Serb people’s love for their sacred heritage. The Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity in Pakrac was originally built around 1750 and is considered one of the most significant Serbian Orthodox sacred sites in Slavonia. Throughout its centuries-long history, the church served as a spiritual and cultural centre for the Serbs of Slavonia, and it was the seat of the Bishop of Pakrac.