Church of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos is located in the village of Kocićev Vijenac in Banja Luka and belongs to the Diocese of Banja Luka.
The Temple of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos is located in the village of Kocićev Vijenac in Banja Luka and belongs to the Diocese of Banja Luka. Since 2009, regular services have been held in the temple. In the Toplica parish, which includes the settlements of Kocićev Vijenac and Srpske Toplice, according to historical sources, in the Middle Ages there was an Orthodox church, or log house church, which was demolished during the period of Turkish rule in Banja Luka (1527-1878). The Temple of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos in our time has become recognizable as the spiritual and cultural center of Banja Luka.
The center of the Toplica parish in the Middle Ages was the Orthodox church, that is, the log church, which was demolished during the period of Turkish rule in Banja Luka (1527-1878). In the works of many writers, travel writers, we find reports about the existence of the Orthodox population and Orthodox places of worship in this area.
Bosnian Bishop Marijan Maravić in his report, which he addressed to Rome entitled Description of the Kingdom of Bosnia with its cities and territories from 1655, provides descriptions of cities with data on the representation of Catholic, Muslim and Orthodox life in Bosnian and some Slavonian parishes. Bishop Maravić, speaking about Orthodox Christians, mentions the existence of the old log house church in the area where the present Toplička parish is located and mentions the moments of life of the then Orthodox inhabitants of this city, who gathered and came to worship in this church and parish. Among other things, he states that in Banja Luka there are about 2,000 Turkish, and about 100 Orthodox and Catholic houses.
The famous Turkish travel writer Evli Chelebi, who stayed in Banja Luka in 1660, wrote in his Travelogue that he also saw Orthodox churches in the city.
Franjevac Tomo Kovačević in the report of 1862, published in the work Description of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it says that in Banja Luka there are 60 houses of Orthodox Serbs.
The log church was demolished by the Turks, and its lumber served for the construction of some other buildings that served the Turkish invaders. In the Land Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo, there is a beam with an carved Orthodox cross, which belonged to an old log house church.
Since 2002, the area of Kocić's wreath and Srpske Toplice has been set aside as the fifth and sixth parish of Banja Luka. In November 2005, the construction of the temple began, the foundations were completed and consecrated, and the masonry continued. His Most Reverend Bishop of Banja Luka, Mr. Efrem, served the Holy Episcopal Liturgy in the closed temple on December 3, 2006, when three bells were consecrated and raised. In August 2009, the fifth and sixth parishes of Banja Luka were administratively separated and renamed as the first and second parish of Toplice, which became integral parts of the Serbian Orthodox Church Municipality of Toplice — Banja Luka. In July 2010, the construction of a reinforced concrete fence around the gate of the temple began, and in 2011 work began on the construction of the facade of the temple, as well as other external and internal decoration.
On Sunday, October 31, 2021, on the feast of the Holy Apostle and Evangelists Luke and St. Peter of Cetinje, His Eminence Bishop of Banja Luka, Mr. Efrem, with the service of a number of priests and deacons, served the Holy Episcopal Liturgy and performed a great consecration of the Temple of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos.
The Temple of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos was built in the Moravian style with an inscribed cross. The temple has three domes, the main of which is a cube 20.78 meters high. Two domes of the bell tower are located at the entrance part of the temple, 18.41 meters high. The dimension of the base of the temple is 21.08 by 13.94 meters. The temple is covered with copper sheet. Above the main entrance from the west, an iconic composition of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos, identical to the fresco from the Sopoćana Monastery, is installed. On the north side of the temple above the entrance is placed the icon of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, while on the south side there is an icon of the Virgin with Christ in the center. The interior of the temple is tiled with granite, and on the walls there are icons of larger dimensions. The iconostasis, the throne of the Virgin and Christ, the pews, and other inventory are made of quality oak wood, with carving ornaments and ornaments.
A fragment of the relics of the Holy Martyr John Vladimir, a Serbian prince from the 11th century, is kept in the temple of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos. The holy relics were brought from the monastery of Zografa from the Holy Mount of Athos, and in the monastery of St. Stephen in Vranje, an icon of St. John Vladimir was painted in which a particle of his relics was placed. The icon with a particle of the relics of St. John Vladimir is available daily for donation to the faithful people in the temple of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos. On the occasion of the great consecration of the temple in the altar part, a particle of the relics of the Holy Apostle Philemon was laid.
The believing people of this parish have a special respect for the Most Holy Theotokos. In her honor, and before the throne of the Mother of God in the temple, every Sunday after the regular evening service we read the akathist of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos, the great feast of the Virgin Mary to which the temple is dedicated.
Taking care of the spiritual development of parishioners, the clergy of the Temple of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos organize devotional trips and spiritual conversations, in order to strengthen and strengthen faith in the Risen Christ.
Worth mentioning, and related to the cultural life of our parish, are the competition and the award of the prize for the best spiritual or patriotic song Under the Assumption Vault, organized by the Church Municipality in cooperation with the Writers' Association of Republika Srpska — Banja Luka Branch, which were first published and held in 2024. These poetic encounters today have taken the form of traditional manifestation. The contest itself Under the Assumption Vault, which is attended by poets from all over the world, runs from Ilinden to the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos, from 02 to 28 August. In the temple of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos on the holiday of her Nativity, on the Little Lady - September 21, the proclamation of the best spiritual or patriotic song and the award of a prize to the laureate, consisting of a charter and a consecrated icon of the Virgin Mary, is organized. By the end of the current year, the Collection of Spiritual and Patriotic Poems will be published Under the Assumption Vaultand delivers to poets.
During the period of Turkish rule, the old Orthodox log church was demolished, which was the spiritual center of believers in this area.
With the establishment of new parishes in the area of Kocić's wreath and Srpske Toplice, conditions were created for the construction of a new temple.
The construction of the temple began and its foundations were consecrated, thus beginning a new spiritual life of the community.
The first hierarchical liturgy was served in the cornered temple and three bells were consecrated.
A reinforced concrete fence was built around the porch of the temple, thereby arranging its external space.
Work began on the facade and interior decoration of the temple.
The Temple of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos was solemnly consecrated and put into full liturgical use.
The Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, the mediator of our salvation, lived long after the Ascension of her Son. While dying on the cross, her Son, Jesus Christ, handed her over to the Apostle St. John the Theologian for safekeeping. In John's home, in Zion, the Most Holy One lived in constant prayer, waiting for the day when she would go to her Son. She often visited all those places that recalled the great events and great deeds of her Son. With her prayers, counsel, meekness and patience, she assisted the holy apostles in spreading the word of God. She spent the longest time in prayer on Mount Jeleon, praying to God to take her to Himself as soon as possible. Once while she was praying, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to her and announced to her that in three days she would retire, she rejoiced greatly. She wished that before her retirement she would see all the apostles once more, and her wish would be fulfilled. Carried by the wings of angels and on the clouds, all the apostles gathered together to give one last blessing to this Mother of Mothers, the Most Holy Theotokos. Forgiving them, she surrendered her spirit to God. The ark with her holy relics, accompanied by a multitude of Christians, was transferred to the Garden of Gethsemane, to the tomb of her parents, Saints Joachim and Anna. As they carried it through the city, a musty smell constantly spread from it. One of the Jewish priests, Athonius, dared to reach the ark with his hands, but at that moment both his hands fell off, and he believed in Christ, and they returned to him. The Great Feast of Our Lady Our Holy Church celebrates the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos every year on August 28 according to the new and August 15 according to the old calendar.
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