Events 2024

Today, in the period before the declaration of 2018 as the Year of European Cultural Heritage, the European Commission proclaimed nine new European memorial sites, recipients of the highest European award for common heritage emphasising common European history and the emergence of the European Union, and European values and human rights as the underlying principles of the European integration process. Besides 29 other locations and events in Europe, the European Heritage Label was also awarded to the Memorial Church of the Holy Spirit in Javorca which was built in 1916 by Austro-Hungarian soldiers in memory of the fallen comrades in arms.

»At the Municipality of Tolmin, we were pleased and happy to receive the news that the nomination for EHL, which we prepared in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and the Tolmin Museum, was successful. We have always believed that the story of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Javorca conveys a European and universal message which was now confirmed by the decision of the European commission. This decision is also a reward for the extensive and demanding work performed and at the same time an encouragement and motivation for the tasks in front of us« was the first response of the Mayor of the Municipality of Tolmin, Mr. Uroš Brežan, after the receipt of good news from Brussels.

The selection of memorial sites for the award of the EHL takes place in two phases. The pre-selection is carried out by EU countries which can every two years select two memorial sites at the most. This year, the memorial church in Javorca was the only memorial site whose nomination was supported by our country. The European jury consisting of 13 independent experts then selects one memorial site per individual country at the most, and on the basis of its recommendations, the European Commission then declares memorial sites receiving the EHL. The applicant of the nomination for the receipt of the EHL was the Municipality of Tolmin as the owner of this cultural monument, however, in the preparation of the necessary documents Mr. Matjaž Kos M.Sc., the person responsible for social activities at the Municipality of Tolmin,  cooperated with the Director of the Tolmin Museum, Mrs. Damjana Fortunat Černilogar M.Sc., Mrs. Mateja Leban from Javni zavod za turizem Dolina Soče and external experts, Mrs. Jelka Pirkovič Ph.d. and Mr. Dušan Kramberger M.Sc. In the project, which they had to enclose to the nomination for the award of the EHL, the European dimension of the church in Javorca was, inter alia, explained in the following manner: »The project is based on the presentation of the message of Javorca as a place of European memory. It emphasises the importance of common roots, common history and common values of the European nations. The basic objective is to preserve the collective memory about solidarity and the creative will during a difficult period. We plan to further develop the role and the importance of Javorca as a symbol of individualised memory and a place of tolerance between religions and to interpret its main symbolism.«

The memorial church in Javorca received the entitlement to use the special sign of European heritage already in 2007.

Source: Municipality of Tolmin, www.tolmin.si