The Temple of the Holy Hieromartyr Bishop Platon in Vrbanja was built as a lasting memorial to the Bishop of Banja Luka, who was martyred in the early days of World War II.
The Temple of Holy Hieromartyr Bishop Platon in Vrbanja was erected as a lasting memorial to the Bishop of Banja Luka who suffered martyrdom in the early days of World War II. The idea for its construction arose from the need to create a spiritual center in the Vrbanja settlement that would gather believers and commemorate Bishop Platon's sacrifice.
Construction of the temple, the first in the Serbian Orthodox Church dedicated to Holy Hieromartyr Platon, began in 2004. Its foundations were consecrated by His Grace Bishop Jefrem of Banja Luka on Aranđelovdan (St. Michael's Day), November 21, 2004. Construction was successfully completed and culminated in its consecration on the Feast of St. John the Theologian, October 9, 2011. The consecration was performed by Bishop Jefrem (Milutinović) of Banja Luka, Bishop Vasilije (Vadić) of Srem, and Bishop Nikanor (Bogunović) of Banat.
The temple's appearance follows traditional Orthodox architectural patterns. It was built with a dome and a bell tower, making it recognizable in the landscape and giving it a dignified character. The walls and interior are adorned with icons and liturgical details that contribute to a sense of holiness and reverence. The temple can accommodate between 350 and 400 worshippers simultaneously, and today it represents a significant spiritual center for the Vrbanja settlement and the wider Banja Luka area.
Services are held regularly:
The temple can be visited daily from 8 AM to 12 PM. It is located at Rade Radića Street 86, 78 000 Banja Luka.
The temple's patronal feast day is celebrated annually on May 5th, the day of Bishop Platon's martyrdom. On this day, worshippers from Vrbanja and the wider surrounding area gather, and the festive liturgy is usually led by the Bishop of the Eparchy of Banja Luka, with the clergy and faithful present. The celebration is an opportunity to remember Bishop Platon's martyrdom, and also for the community to strengthen its faith and mutual fellowship.
With the consecration of the temple in 2011, Vrbanja gained not only a place of worship but also a symbol of identity and spiritual strength. Liturgies, baptisms, weddings, and other church services performed in the temple bear witness to a vibrant spiritual life and the people's connection to their martyr. Today, the temple in Vrbanja stands as a lasting memorial to Bishop Platon and a sign that his name and sacrifice are not forgotten, while also serving as a place where the faithful gather in prayer, rejoice in holidays, and preserve tradition.
In this way, the Temple of Holy Hieromartyr Bishop Platon in Vrbanja connects the past and the present, serving as a reminder of suffering while also providing strength for the future. It is a testament that martyrdom transforms into a source of spiritual strength, and that through faith and community, the memory of those who laid down their lives for Christ and their people is preserved.
Holy Hieromartyr Platon of Banja Luka is commemorated on May 5 / April 22. He was born on September 29, 1874, in Belgrade as Milivoje Jovanović. He took monastic vows as a third-year student at the Belgrade Seminary and received the name Platon. He was elected Bishop of Ohrid and Bitola in 1938 and appointed Bishop of Banja Luka in 1939. After several unsuccessful attempts to intimidate and deport Bishop Platon from Banja Luka to Serbia, the Ustaše arrested him on May 5, 1941, along with Archpriest Dušan Subotić, the dean of Gradiška. After their arrest, they were taken to the settlement of Vrbanja, on the bank of the Vrbanja River, where they were tortured and killed, and their mutilated bodies thrown into the river. Bishop Platon's body was found on May 23 downstream in the Vrbas River, in the settlement of Kumsale. He was buried the next day without a funeral service and without an inscription on the wooden cross at the 'Sveti Pantelija' (Saint Panteleimon) cemetery in Banja Luka. The holy relics of Bishop Platon were transferred on July 1, 1973, to the Court Church of the Holy Trinity in Banja Luka, where they remain to this day. The Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church canonized Holy Hieromartyr Platon as a saint and designated the day of his commemoration as the date of his martyrdom — May 5 / April 22.
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