{"id":63431,"date":"2026-07-28T20:06:47","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T18:06:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.omnesmag.com\/?p=63431"},"modified":"2026-07-30T13:51:30","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T11:51:30","slug":"vandalism-and-arson-at-the-medjugorje-altar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.omnesmag.com\/en\/actualidad\/vandalismo-e-incendio-en-el-altar-de-medjugorje\/","title":{"rendered":"The statue in Medjugorje has been restored, and the perpetrator of the serious acts of vandalism has been arrested"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Junno Arocho Esteves, OSV \/ Omnes<\/em> (Updated news story).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a statement released on July 28, the city\u2019s parish church said it received the news of the vandalism \u00abwith great sadness\u00bb and that it was working to clean up and repair the damage \u00abso that all areas are properly prepared for prayer once again.\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00abWe pray for the conversion of the hearts of those who committed this act, that the Lord may touch them with His grace and guide them along the path of goodness,\u00bb said the parish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Graffiti and messages against psychics<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to local media reports, police in the neighboring town of Citluk received a report at 4:30 a.m. on July 28 that several statues of the Virgin Mary\u2014known as \u00abGospa\u00bb or \u00abOur Lady\u00bb in Croatian\u2014had been vandalized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the photographs published by the Bosnian online news site bljesak.info<\/a>, the vandal can be seen covering parts of the statue with black spray paint, along with several blasphemous inscriptions directed at the Virgin Mary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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One of the images that has been vandalized. Photo: OSV News photo\/courtesy of The Interreligious Council in Bosnia and Herzegovina<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Among the vandal's other graffiti were \u00abMedjugorje is a hoax,\u00bb \u00abdevil,\u00bb and \u00abonly Jesus,\u00bb spray-painted in various areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The police also found a banner with the first names of the six alleged visionaries: Vicka Ivankovic-Mijatovic, Mirjana Dragicevic-Soldo, Marija Pavlovic-Lunetti, Ivan Dragicevic, Ivanka Ivankovic-Elez, and Jakov Colic. Below their names was a message written in Polish that read: \u00abTo oszusci, mam dowody\u00bb (\u00abThey\u2019re frauds, I have proof\u00bb).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arson at the altar of the Church of San Jaime<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

About 30 minutes after the police were notified of the act of vandalism, a fire broke out at the altar of St. James Church. A security camera video posted on X showed a man pouring a flammable liquid around the altar and setting it on fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Interreligious Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina stated that the acts of vandalism constituted \u00aba profound insult\u00bb to Catholics and \u00aban attack on peace, mutual respect, and the dignity of all people in Bosnia and Herzegovina.\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The parish's response: prayer, forgiveness, and the continuation of worship services<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The council also praised the response of St. James Church, stating that its call for pilgrims to respond to evil with prayer and fasting was \u00aba testimony of faith, responsibility, and a genuine commitment to peace.\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00abHowever, forgiveness does not absolve the perpetrator of the crime of responsibility, nor does it relieve the relevant institutions of their obligation to fully investigate this case,\u00bb he stated. \u00abWe must respond to the desecration of sacred sites with a united condemnation, the protection of every person\u2019s right to freely practice their faith, and an even stronger commitment to a society of peace, mutual respect, and forgiveness.\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Record-Breaking Restoration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The rapid mobilization of the parish community, the young people of the Cenacle Community, and numerous volunteers made it possible to repair the damage caused by a recent act of vandalism in Medjugorje within a few hours. This joint effort succeeded in removing the black graffiti that had covered the face and hands of the statue of the Queen of Peace, as well as restoring the outdoor altar of St. James Parish, which had been damaged by arson. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to this effective intervention, the evening prayer service went ahead as usual, sending a clear message of calm and welcome in the face of violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Restoration of the image. Photo: Medjugorje Center<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Three days before Mladifest<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The prompt restoration of the facilities has been essential for the shrine, which is about to host the 37th Mladifest, the International Youth Festival\u2014one of the Catholic Church\u2019s largest youth events, which brings together more than 60,000 people every summer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By keeping the site clean and continuing its regular activities, Medjugorje reaffirms its spiritual mission without compromising its care for the thousands of pilgrims who gather there during these special days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A suspect has been arrested<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For its part, the police in Bosnia and Herzegovina acted swiftly to investigate the incident, identifying and arresting the alleged perpetrator. The Prosecutor\u2019s Office will take over the case against a 31-year-old Polish citizen accused of damaging or demolishing religious buildings, a crime of vandalism that, under Bosnian law, carries a sentence of between six months and five years in prison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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