Old Log Church
Description
Nestled in the peace of the village of Malo Blaško, just a mile and a half from Slatina, the Old Log Church stands as a silent witness to survival and faith. Although 1745 is taken as the official date, eight stećci in its yard suggest much deeper roots.
This architectural gem, measuring just 28 square meters, hides an incredible harmony of altar, nave, and choir. Created during the era of Ottoman bans, the church, according to legend, had to be modest and blend into the forest that still surrounds it today. Today it is a favorite refuge for walkers and lovers of cultural heritage, who find extraordinary peace and true spirituality in its simplicity.
Architecture in miniature
The wooden church in Mali Blaško is fascinating in its proportions: on just 28 square meters of wooden structure, the entire liturgical program was successfully fitted in — altar, nave, narthex, and choir. This architectural compactness is not a flaw but a special feature of the wooden-building craft, which, under conditions banning the construction of Orthodox sacred buildings during Ottoman rule, had to find modest yet functional forms.
The richly painted interior and carved imperial doors, the work of master icon painters from the late 19th century, show that size was never an obstacle to beauty.
Legend and stećci
The church is linked to one of the most beautiful legends about the wooden churches of the Diocese of Banja Luka: that villagers moved it at night because the Turks had desecrated it by bringing in horses, and told the pasha that the church had moved on its own. This legend, which exists in several versions across Bosnia and Herzegovina, reflects the real historical conditions under which sacred buildings were constructed during the Ottoman period.
The eight stećci found in the cemetery next to the church tell a different story — that this sacred place is older than the wooden church itself, perhaps dating back to the late medieval period of the Bosnian Kingdom.
