2023-10-09 12:12:52
(Photo: Screenshot/Televizija 5 Užice)
The picturesque village of Gonje near Sjenice in Serbia is the setting for a remarkable project. A new temple is being built here, the first in this area in more than 300 years. But what makes this building special is the fact that not only Serbs but also Muslims are taking part in it – both in the work itself and through their donations.
Gonje is known for its multi-ethnic community and good relations between neighbors. This harmony is also reflected in the joint effort to build the temple. After the Eparchy of Mileseva approved the construction of the temple on the walls of the 13th century church of Zvonare in Pavlice, Bosniaks, in addition to the Serbs, also took part in its construction.
“In the spring of 2020 we started laying the foundations of the church and continued in 2022, since everything was stopped in 2021 by Corona and the lack of materials,” explained Goran Brajevic, the construction manager. But in addition to the pandemic and the lack of materials, there is another challenge: money.
“In 2020, the local government helped the most by investing in the foundations of the church, they paid for the earth excavation, the water supply… and there was also help from companies from Novi Pazar, Raska and from the president of the state. But what we can praise most is that our work is also carried out by Muslims. The Serbs are fine, they are building their own church, but there is also a team of Muslims working. Although we also have many Muslim donors, both in money and in building materials,” Brajevic added.
The significance of the temple building goes beyond the religious dimension. “The construction of this building is very important for the village, the residents, for the entire people who live or come and pass through the village. People come here from all directions, so it’s good that we have a church. Now the village is poor, people can’t do everything on their own,” emphasized Ljubinko Colovic, one of the residents.
The construction of this Orthodox temple in the village of Gonje is a sign of hope and unity. He shows that despite all the challenges, history and its positive values should not be abandoned. They should be cared for for a better and more beautiful future. And the construction of this temple will definitely contribute to this.
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