Franciscan Province of Herzegovina
Franciscan Province of Herzegovina of the Ascension of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a province of the Catholic religious order of the Order of Friars Minor, commonly known as Franciscans. It was established in 1843 when it seceded from the Franciscan Province of Bosna Srebrena. Its headquarters are in Mostar.
Franciscan Province of Herzegovina of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary | |
| Hercegovačka franjevačka provincija Uznesenja Blažene Djevice Marije | |
| Named after | Assumption of Mary |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Franciscan Province of Bosnia |
| Formation | 3 October 1852 |
| Founder | Anđeo Kraljević and others |
| Founded at | Čerigaj, Široki Brijeg, Herzegovina, Ottoman Empire |
| Type | Franciscan province |
| Headquarters | Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Location | |
Region served | Herzegovina |
Official language | Croatian |
Provincial | Jozo Grbeš |
Parent organization | Order of Friars Minor |
| Website | franjevci |
The Franciscans were present at the territory of Herzegovina since the 13th century. During the Ottoman rule, they established their exclusive care of the Catholics under the Ottoman held-territories, thus gaining a number of privileges, acting as a de facto an Ottoman institution. With the restoration of the Church hierarchy after the Austrian-Hungarian occupation in 1881, the Franciscans fiercely opposed the restoration, trying to preserve their privileges and control over the Herzegovinian parishes, a conflict which is not resolved till the present-day, known as the Herzegovina Affair.
As of 2019, there are 194 friars who are members of the Franciscan Province of Herzegovina, of whom 116 have taken permanent vows and live in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and 109 serve as priests in Bosnia and Herzegovina.