The Blessed Martyrs of Drina Church

CLIENT

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vrhbosna

SERVICES

Preliminary & main project

YEAR

2020

PLACE

Goražde, Bosnia and Herzegovina
The repetition of the architectural elements in number 5, which symbolizes the 5 nuns, The Blessed Martyrs of Drina, runs through the architecture of the church and the accompanying rooms. Thus, we can point out 5 “V pillars” that are used to support the terrace in front of the basement, and 5 pillars on the porch of the church in front of the glass portal that extends the length of the nave of the church. The pillar as a support is a clear association with the support of the faith that the The Blessed Martyrs of Drina made with their so-called “salvation” from the enemy. The dissolvable glass portal was designed to be constructed as a stained glass window that would abstractly describe the path of martyrdom that the sisters went through. The large portal made of stained glass is a symbol for the window through which the martyrs found “salvation”. The pillars shown in the solution are linear, a proposal for abstract statues of Drina martyrs. The design of the stained glass solution, the interior, and the sculptures of the martyrs would be part of a special study. The history of The Blessed Martyrs of Drina would be especially presented in the narthex of the church.
In the western façade shown, more precisely the gable wall, a large glass portal above the presbytery and a cross above the pillar on the outside of the large window can be seen. The Pillar Under the Cross is envisioned in the final performance to be an abstract sculpture of Sister Berchman. In this way she is singled out again, but she certainly stands next to the other abstract sculptures under the porch that would be a representation of the other 4 nuns. In the east façade, the focus is on the bell tower and the entrance façade. This harmonious composition is, so to speak, bound by a cross in the entrance portal, with an elongated window. On the cross is an inscription that ambiguously directs visitors to reflections, and certainly greets them warmly:

“FRA TUE BRACCIA; LA VITA ETERNA”

“IN YOUR HANDS; ETERNAL LIFE”