Residents of the Raštani settlement in Mostar discovered that the Church of the Holy Great Martyr Procopius had been vandalised. Frescoes destroyed, oil lamps torn down, and sacred items - including the Gospel Book and donations - stolen.
The incident was reported on 13 April 2025 at the Church of the Holy Great Martyr Procopius, located in the Raštani settlement. Unknown perpetrators entered the church, reportedly through a broken window, and caused damage inside the building. Frescoes depicting saints were destroyed, icons were found scattered on the floor, and oil from lamps had been spilled. Several religious objects, including a Gospel book, lamps, and money, were taken.
Local priest Nebojša Radić described the church as desecrated and expressed the emotional impact on the community, noting that residents had built the church themselves only two years earlier through personal effort and funding. Residents who discovered the damage spoke of a “terrible feeling,” emphasising the shock of finding sacred objects scattered and damaged.
At the same time, both the priest and local residents expressed uncertainty regarding the motive. While the act directly targeted and desecrated religious objects, they voiced hope that the act was not driven by religious or ethnic hatred but rather by theft. Police have conducted an on-site investigation. Reports also indicate that Orthodox churches in Mostar have been repeatedly targeted in past incidents, although not all cases have been solved.