From October 6 to 8, the city of Banja Luka in Republika Srpska, one of the two administrative entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, hosted the Days of Russian Spiritual Culture. The festival, held under the patronage of Russia’s Ministry of Culture and the Russian Orthodox Church, attracted significant public attention and became a major cultural event in the region.

The opening ceremony took place at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the main Orthodox church in Banja Luka. The renowned Sretensky Monastery Choir from Russia, one of the country’s oldest sacred music ensembles, performed a concert to mark the occasion. Later, soloists from the choir held a master class for students and teachers at the Karlovac Theological Seminary.

According to TASS, Russian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina Igor Kalabukhov noted that the people of Republika Srpska “genuinely love and value Russian culture,” adding that such events “help strengthen the spiritual and cultural ties between our nations.” Presidential advisor Marko Romić expressed hope that Russian performers would continue touring the region, stating that “European musical civilization cannot be imagined without Russian culture.”

As part of the festival, the Museum of Republika Srpska opened a photo exhibition titled Kizhi – A Reborn Masterpiece of Russia, showcasing the unique wooden church ensemble on Lake Onega. The exhibition featured UNESCO-listed monuments of traditional wooden architecture, as well as scenes from Orthodox holidays, ancient rituals, crafts, and rural life in the Russian North.

The Days of Russian Spiritual Culture is an international cultural diplomacy project by Russia’s Ministry of Culture, supported by the Foreign Ministry and the Russian Orthodox Church. Since its inception in 2008, the initiative has brought elements of Russia’s spiritual and artistic heritage to audiences in over 50 countries.