Church of St. John the Baptist

Podmilačje is one of the most fascinating and oldest spiritual centers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, located in the immediate vicinity of Jajce. It was first mentioned in 1461 in a charter of King Stjepan Tomašević, and its Church of St. John has become a symbol of unwavering faith and miraculous survival. This small Gothic church managed to survive the fall of Bosnia to the Ottomans and centuries of turbulent history, remaining a beacon of hope for all the peoples of this region. Although it was destroyed to its foundations in 1993, its reconstruction and the preserved miraculous statue of St. John the Baptist symbolize the triumph of spirit over destruction.

What makes Podmilačje a true phenomenon is its role as a place of heartfelt unity. For centuries, Catholics, Orthodox Christians, and Muslims have come here together in prayer and hope for healing. The shrine is widely known as a place of penance and vows, especially on June 23 and 24, when thousands of pilgrims arrive barefoot, carrying deep faith with them. The tradition of taking pebbles or sand as medicine testifies to the inseparable bond between the people and this holy ground, making Podmilačje the “Bosnian Lourdes.”