Franciscan Theology in Sarajevo, which has a centuries-long tradition, will no longer be a separate educational institution as of the next academic year, but will continue its existence under the Faculty of Catholic Theology of the University of Sarajevo (UNSA).
According to available information, one of the main reasons for this is that Franciscan Theology no longer has enough students. Measures will be implemented to integrate the Theology into the Faculty of Catholic Theology.
Franciscans have been active in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) for the past seven centuries, and according to the data from Franciscan Theology, Franciscan education gained momentum in the 18th century. In the mid-19th century, theological schools were founded in Fojnica and Kresevo, which are considered the beginnings of higher education in BiH.
At the beginning of the 20th century, theological studies were unified for all of BiH in Livno, and then Theology moved to the Monastery of St. Anthony in the Sarajevo neighborhood of Bistrik. After that, a new Theology building was constructed in Sarajevo’s Kovacici, which was confiscated by the socialist authorities and turned into the Faculty of Forestry and Agriculture. For the next 20 years, Theology was again housed in the Monastery of St. Anthony.
In 1966, the Franciscans built a new building in Nedzarici, which during the last war was under the control of the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS). This building was renovated after the war, Klix.ba writes.
