Podmilačje holy site draws tens of thousands for St. John feast

On 24 June, the sanctuary of St. Ivo in Podmilačje, one of Bosnia‑Herzegovina’s oldest pilgrimage sites, hosted a mass celebration of the birth of St John the Baptist. Organisers expected, and reported, tens of thousands of pilgrims from across Bosnia, Croatia and the diaspora attending the open‑air liturgy and subsequent prayers for the sick.

The central mass was presided over by the newly appointed bishop and military ordinary of BiH, Mons. Miro Relota, with auxiliary participation from Bishop Tomo Vukšić and other clerics. Political representatives Dragan Čović, president of the Croat parliamentary assembly, and Marina Pendeš, head of the Croat club in the Parliamentary Assembly, also took part, underscoring the event’s importance for the Croat community in the region.

The celebration highlighted the universal appeal of St John, whose figure is respected by Catholics, Orthodox Christians and Muslims alike. Ongoing reconstruction works – a new church and an external altar – are slated for completion this year, symbolising the restoration of cultural heritage after the 1990s conflict. Among the pilgrims, 91‑year‑old Ivka Kovačić, a relative of former footballer Mate Kovačić, drew attention for her steadfast devotion despite advanced age.