Crkva svetog Petra i Pavla

Nestled in the small mountain village of Kočerin, BiH, not far from the town of Široki Brijeg, is the unique and vibrant Parish Church of Saints Peter & Paul (Župna Crkva sv. Petra i Pavla), which is of the Catholic denomination. The original church that existed at this site was built in 1927, however, it being unable to accomodate the growing congregation, this church was demolished in 1967 and efforts were put forward towards coordinating the construction of a new chuch facility. The concept for this new church was designed by Franciscan friar and engineer Pija Nuić, who employed a much more contemporary and modern approach for the creation of this sacral building. While the structure of the church was largely completed by 1980 (when it was consecrated), work continued for another five years on finishing a number of the artisitic and decorative details of the complex. The front facade of this new Parish Church of Saints Peter & Paul is dominated by a massive tile mosaic of St. Francis, created by Zagreb artist Ante Starčević, which is purported to be the largest artistic depiction of St. Francis in the world. The figure reaches high in the air, stretching its arms up over 25m high all the way to the top of the bell tower. Such a dynamic and large figurative mosaic adorning a church in this way was a novel design innovation and completely unique to any other house of worship built in Yugoslavia (possibly even all of Europe). Meanwhile, the interior of the church contains a nave which is chracterized by a series of hulking raw concrete butresses holding up the roof. This very "brutalist" architectural feature creates a tunnel view which frames and leads the eye to the imposing stone mosaic installed on the far wall above the altar, also created by Starčević, which depicts the namesakes of the church: Saints Peter & Paul. Many sources describe this church as among the most beautiful Catholic churches in Bosnia, a favorite of locals, visitors and pilgrims.

CHURCH NO 1

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