STA, 31 October 2021 - Slovenia is celebrating Reformation Day on Sunday, a public holiday that marks more than just the start of the Reformation Movement in 1517, it also celebrates the beginnings of the Slovenian language.

In line with demands that religious books should be in a language that the people understand, the Slovenian Reformation Movement produced the first books in the Slovenian language.

The first one, Cathecism (Katekizem), was written by the Protestant priest Primož Trubar (1508-1586) in 1550, followed the same year by his second book Abecedarium (Abedecnik).

The two books, and subsequent books by other Protestant writers, are seen as the foundations of the Slovenian language but also of Slovenian culture and national identity coming several centuries before the idea of Slovenian nationhood was first articulated.

This point was also highlighted by Prime Minister Janez Janša in his message and by Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti in his speech at the main Reformation Day ceremony in Krško on Friday.

Janša said that the first printed book in Slovenian had laid a more solid foundation for the survival of both the Slovene language and the Slovene nation.

"Just as the Slovenian literary language placed us among the culturally developed nations of Europe five hundred years ago, so today, in times of globalisation and the blurring of national boundaries, the Slovenian language (still) remains a key part of our cultural heritage and identity. The centre of national consciousness. It is the bond that binds us together, preserves us and is the foundation of our identity," Janša wrote in today's message.

Simoniti said the Reformation had "paved the spiritual path" for the Slovenian language, providing the foundations for its development as a literary language and for Slovenian national identity.

Parliamentary Speaker Igor Zorčič said in his message that "even today, we must not lose sight of the message of the reformist revival that when we are stuck in the quagmire of our own disagreements and divisions, change is necessary and must be sincerely pursued by all".

He believes that even more than half a century after the Reformation, concern for the fundamental questions of every human being - the question of freedom, justice and human dignity - continues to be imposed. "It is our responsibility to find adequate answers to these questions," he wrote in his message.

"Political parties must not divide us, but unite us, they must stand up for the good of all citizens, because only in this way can they ensure a functioning state", Bishop Leon Novak pointed out in his sermon on Reformation Day in Murska Sobota. In this context, he said, particular attention must be paid to language and the form of speech.

Reformation Day has been a public holiday since 1992.

STA, 2 April 2021 - The Škofja Loka Passion Play, Slovenia's oldest play, was staged in the town of Škofja Loka on Good Friday exactly 300 years ago. Passion processions had been held in town before and the play was in the making for years, but the preserved manuscript is dated 1721.

The 300th anniversary of the oldest preserved play in Slovenian and the oldest preserved director's book in Europe was to be celebrated with the staging of the play but the mass event was pushed to 2022 because of the epidemic.

The Škofja Loka Passion Play is the biggest play staged outdoors in Slovenia featuring around 1,000 volunteers.

It is difficult to say for certain when it was written down, "but we know that it was in the time when father Romuald lived in the Škofja Loka Capuchin monastery, meaning between 1715 and 1727," coordinator of the Škofja Loka Passion Play Agata Pavlovec told the STA.

"One performance definitely took place on Good Friday in 1721," she said, adding that the preserved director's book carried that year and that passion plays had been staged every year only on Good Friday.

In modern times the play was revived, and has been staged every six years since. Usually it is performed eight times during Lent and before Easter.

According to Matija Ogrin, a literary historian who presented the historical context of the play in this year's scientific publication dealing with the Škofja Loka Passion Play, there are many variants of the Capuchin passion play and passages dating back to the 17th century.

They started to emerge soon after the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin came to Ljubljana in 1606 and introduced passion processions on Good Friday there.

"This means that until the passion play started to be staged in Škofja Loka there was an almost a 100-year tradition of passion play texts in a number of versions, additional scenes, dialogues etc.," said Ogrin.

Any leader of the procession, for example in Radgona, Villach and Škofja Loka, where they were being staged, had access to these texts within the Capuchin order.

When father Romuald was writing his text for the procession in 1715 he used previous versions of Capuchin processions.

There is evidence that passion plays had been staged in Škofja Loka from 1713 until a ban in 1768. The literary text by father Romuald was written and supplemented between 1715 to 1727, Ogrin said.

Out of all Capuchin passion plays only the Škofja Loka Passion Play has stood the test of time.

The original book, which underwent restoration last year, is kept at the Škofja Loka Capuchin monastery, where it was written.

The Škofja Loka Passion Play was first staged in modern times in 1936, and then in 1999, 2000, 2009 and in 2015.

Next year, it will be put on for the first time since it was listed on UNESCO's representative list of intangible cultural heritage in 2016.

The play is performed by amateur actors and the spoken text is accompanied by music and singing. The performance features cavalry, men who carry crosses, whippers, Adam's children, colourful fraternities and guilds, musicians and singers.

Around 900 performers and 400 support staff take part and they are all volunteers, reads UNESCO's description of the play.

This year, Škofja Loka will mark the tricentennial with several on-site and virtual events dedicated to the play and its heritage, including several exhibitions and screenings of the play.

The town was also to host the annual conference of the European towns with the tradition of passion plays, Europassion, which unites almost 90 passion groups from 16 countries, but the event was cancelled due to the pandemic.

STA, 1 February 2021 - Prime Minister Janez Janša has nominated Slovenian Madagascar-based missionary Pedro Opeka and his humanitarian organisation Akamasoa for this year's Nobel Peace Prize, Janša's office said in a press release on Sunday evening. The prime minister welcomed Opeka's comprehensive approach to the development of society and humanitarianism.

He said the activities of Opeka and his organisation personified the goals of the United Nations.

In the last 30 years, Opeka and Akamasoa have fought many battles against poverty, giving people from the social margin hope and creating opportunities for them to restore their dignity, Janša's office said.

Opeka has dedicated his life to helping people living in desperate conditions in the town of Antananarivo on Madagascar. He has enabled them to work, and gain financial independence and education.

The Akamasoa community now includes more than 18 villages with all required infrastructure. Former homeless people and families now live in more than 4,000 brick houses. The community provides an education system including kindergarten, primary and secondary schools and since recently also the university of Akamasoa, and three libraries.

Opeka and Akamasoa have so far helped more than half a million people. Akamasoa annually distributes about five million meals.

According to Janša, the charity work of Opeka and his co-workers has become a "global peace project in the battle against poverty, marginalisation and injustices".

This is the third time that Opeka is being nominated for the prize. Janša first nominated him in 2013, and a number of people from the academia, politics and civil society backed the nomination. Prime Minister Miro Cerar nominated him in 2015.

Born to Slovenian expats in Buenos Aires in 1948, Opeka joined the Lazarian missionary society in 1966. He studied theology in Ljubljana, but completed his studies at the Catholic Institute in Paris. He has been living and working in Madagascar since 1976.

Opeka has received numerous recognitions for his work, including the Golden Order for Services.

STA, 17 November 2020 - The Slovenian Catholic Church has updated its guidelines for the protection of minors and vulnerable individuals against sexual abuse, explicitly ordering all who work for the Church to report any suspicion of sexual abuse to the authorities. The Church's own investigation cannot be launched before a report to state authorities.

Compared to guidelines used until now, the new document says, for the first time, that "a religious worker is obligated to report to the Social Services, the police or the State Prosecution any suspicion, allegation or information of sexual abuse (irrespective of the time of the event)... at the earliest possible time".

The Church had previously held that sexual abuse allegations do not have to be reported in every case, especially when this goes against the wishes of the victim. Neither did previous guidelines include explicit instructions on reporting to state authorities.

"No form of autonomous and legal Church proceedings of investigation and resolution of sexual abuse may begin before it is reported to state authorities," the new guidelines say.

The document states that "religious workers", which involves the clergy as well as volunteers working for the Church, must cooperate proactively with state authorities in investigations and other proceedings related to the reported sexual abuse.

Adopted by the Slovenian Bishops' Conference on 5 October, the document is an overhaul of the 2014 guidelines, which were an update of the first guidelines adopted in 2006.

Compared to the 2014 document, the guidelines also lay down in more detail the Church legal proceedings in such cases, and provide more detailed instructions on reporting within the Church.

Among other things, the new guidelines mark the launch of a fund established in January to finance psychological aid to alleged victims of sexual abuse perpetrated by priests and other religious workers.

In accepting this sort of help, the alleged victims sign a statement that the use of these funds does not prejudice any Church law, criminal law or damages proceedings.

STA, 28 October 2020 - The Commission for Justice and Peace (Komisija Pravičnost in mir) of the Slovenian Bishops' Conference has warned in a statement ahead of All Saints' Day that there is a danger of a growing culture of disregard for human life. It expressed support for everybody fighting for human lives in the coronavirus pandemic and criticism of a part of political opposition.

"Life takes precedence over ideology and the fight for power," the commission has said, adding that a part of the opposition invests a lot more effort into climbing back to power than in helping save lives and preserve health of Slovenians.

"In this situation, this is a perverse political practice because it does not focus on people and the common good, but on interests of certain groups," the commission said in the statement issued on Wednesday.

Citizens rightly expect a different approach: leaders joining forces in key issues and expressing unity and solidarity in order to save lives despite holding diverging views and interests. "Effort for the common good is a top commandment and a norm of any responsible politics and civil position."

Part of the left-leaning opposition took issue with this, saying that the Catholic Church in Slovenia was undermining its own credibility with such statements.

The Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ) said it was "appalled and disappointed with the unwarranted insinuations about the bad intentions of the opposition".

The party would like the Church to deal with its primary mission, instead of undermining its own credibility with "cheap politicising" and showing its lack of understanding of democracy and democratic processes, it added.

The commission is also worried about "acquiescence or even inciting of Friday protests", saying that protests would soon become insignificant had "they not had support from the main public media, above all RTV Slovenija".

The Left said that the statement represented ideological fight against the protesters, RTV Slovenija and the opposition.

"With such moves, the leadership of the Slovenian Roman Catholic Church is doing harm mostly to believers and the Church itself, as such divisive addresses only resonate as an extension of the ruling party SDS," it added.

The commission is also worried because of what it feels is unresponsiveness of the public opinion in the face of incitement to violence and murders of political opponents.

"Culture of death - as Pope John Paul II labelled disregard for human life - is reflected in a peculiar way by the attitude of a part of our politicians toward decent burial of victims found in the graves of war and post-war mass killings perpetrated by Communist revolutionaries."

The commission also noted that All Saints' Day will not be commemorated by group religious events.

All out stories on religion and Slovenia

STA, 15 August 2020 - Special masses were held around the country on Saturday to mark the Feast of the Assumption, one of the main Christian holidays and a national holiday in Slovenia since 1992. Marked by coronavirus measures, the ceremonies drew less people than usually, with the main mass attended by some 3,000 believers, 2,000 less than last year.

 There are several hundred churches in Slovenia devoted to the Virgin Mary and several of them, mostly older ones, especially to Mary's "assumption of body and soul into heavenly glory".

Slovenian bishops symbolically entrusted the Slovenian nation into Mary's hands in 1992 and that year 15 August also became a bank holiday, marked by pilgrimages.

The main celebration of the Assumption is traditionally held at the Brezje Basilica of Mary Help of Christians (Marija Pomagaj Brezje), one of Slovenia's holiest and most popular pilgrimage sites, where mass was given by Cardinal Franc Rode along with Ljubljana Archbishop Stanislav Zore.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the naming of Brezje as the Slovenian National Shrine Mary Help of Christians.

Holy masses, mostly delivered by Slovenian bishops, were held today at the majority of the main sites of Marian devotion in the country, including at the Basilica of the Virgin Protectress in the village of Ptujska Gora, another popular pilgrimage site. Maribor Archbishop Alojzij Cvikl gave mass there.

In Kranj, mass was delivered by the titular archbishop of Beneventum and apostolic nuncio to Iraq Mitja Leskovar, while retired Ljubljana Archbishop Anton Stres addressed worshippers at the Church of St Mary at Svete Gore near Bistrica of Sotli.

The ceremonies were adjusted to the epidemiological situation and measures aiming to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, with many of the masses, including at Brezje and Ptujska Gora, held outdoors.

The Slovenian Bishops' Conference has called for the observing of instructions issued by Slovenian bishops and in place since 21 July 2020. Priests and worshippers are urged to respect the 1.5-metre gap, disinfect their hands and use protective masks indoors. Traditional processions and fairs held at some locations have been cancelled.

The elderly, people with health conditions and all belonging to risk groups have been invited to attend holy mass in their home parish or tune in via TV, the Bishops' Conference told the STA.

STA, 31 July 2020 - The Islamic community in Slovenia will celebrate this year's Eid al-Adha, a major Muslim holiday, somewhat differently due to the restrictive anti-epidemic measures, as believers are coming to the new Muslim Cultural Centre in Ljubljana on Friday in groups of 50 in four separate ceremonies.

Also called Eid Qurban or Bakra-Eid, the Feast of the Sacrifice is considered the holier of the two major Muslim holidays, honouring the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son Ismael as an act of obedience to God's command.

It is also connected with the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, called Hajj, but this year Slovenian Muslims have not travelled to the holiest city in Islam due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Islamic community in Slovenia said on the occasion that Eid al-Adha is the time when people think about their families, relatives and friends and about how they feel.

"Hajj is a symbol of unity and deep belief, but also of diversity among people. It teaches them that everything is passable on Earth and that ethical and moral values are key for harmonious mutual relations," it added.

The community has recommended Slovenian Muslims focus on their families in the four days of celebration of Eid al-Adha, and advised against mass gatherings so that the unnecessary spread of the novel coronavirus is prevented.

"In their prayers, they should remember those who have found themselves in a difficult situation due to the epidemic. They should also think about healthcare workers, who are the most exposed to the virus and make the most sacrifices."

The first ever Eid al-Adha ceremony in the Ljubljana mosque was addressed by Mufti Nedžad Grabus, who pointed to the values of human life and equality, but could not avoid talking about the conditions dictated by the pandemic.

"The circumstances we live in demand full responsibility from all of us," said Grabus.

Nevzet Porić, the secretary general of the Islamic community in Slovenia, told the STA that, due to the restrictions, the ceremony had been attended by some 200 people, considerably less than in past years (up to 4,000).

"It's Eid al-Adha, but the feeling is strange, because you cannot shake hands with your friends and embrace them," he added, while calling on the community to be responsible as a few of its members already had died of Covid-19.

Grabus added that this year's prayers were also focused on "god easing the situation related to the contagious disease, which the entire world is fighting with, to protect the community from illness, worries and temptation."

STA, 3 February 2020 - The Ljubljana mosque, which the Islamic community in Slovenia has been striving for decades, will be inaugurated in June after the end of Ramadan, while it will already start operating in about a week, Mufti Nedžad Grabus announced on Monday.

 Presenting the Muslim Cultural Centre Ljubljana, as it is officially called, Grabus told the press the centre was a milestone event for Muslims in Slovenia, who were finally getting their own space for prayer and activities.

Grabus, who highlighted the cultural and educational aspects of the centre, looked back at the efforts to obtain the mosque, which is located just north of the city centre.

Plans for a different location failed in 2006, while the plot between Parmova and Kurilniška streets was secured in 2008 and the foundation stone laid in 2013. Construction was suspended in 2017 and resumed in 2018.

Grabus spoke of one of the most beautiful Islamic cultural centres in Europe. It has a capacity of 1,400 worshippers and comprises a 24-metre cube containing the dome and a 40-metre-high minaret.

Aside from offices, classrooms, a washing room and a residential section, it also houses a gym and restaurant. A car park is attached as well, with Grabus announcing the gym, restaurant and car park could also be rented out to help fund maintenance.

The project will end up costing slightly over EUR 34 million, roughly EUR 28 million of which was provided by donors from Qatar. EUR 2 million came from other countries while EUR 4 million was collected by Muslims in Slovenia, whose number Grabus put at around 80,000.

The mufti rejected speculation the donors from Qatar could have asked for any favours or a role in the centre's activities in return for the funding.

Prayers will be held five times a days in the mosque, while they are expected to be extended to the platform in front of it during major holidays.

Like is customary abroad, worshippers will also be summoned to prayer with the help of loudspeakers, but Grabus announced this would be limited to the centre's main platform. "We will make an effort not to upset the Slovenian public," he said.

It remains to be determined in what way the centre and mosque will be open to the general public. At present, the idea is to enable visits to the mosque when it is not used for prayer, initially free of charge and later possible for a fee.

To mark Reformation Day, here's a short introduction to Primož Trubar

STA, 25 August 2019 - A series of events will be held between today and 18 September in five Slovenian towns to mark the European Days of Jewish Culture. The all-European project, taking place in Slovenia for the 20th year in a row, will provide the visitors with a deep insight into individual aspects of Jewish culture and heritage.

For the 20th anniversary of the project in Slovenia, a diverse programme of events will be held in Maribor, Ljubljana, Negova, Lendava and Murska Sobota, almost all of the events being free of charge.

The European Days of Jewish Culture in Slovenia will be opened by the Maribor-based world music group Kontra-Kvartet with a concert featuring the traditional Jewish Klezmer music in the Maribor City Park.

The programme will also feature open day events, guided tours in museums, several exhibitions, a theatre performance, a concert of Jewish music, and various presentations and interactive workshops.

The aim is to introduce the audience into Jewish culture and raise their awareness of the importance of preservation and protection of Jewish heritage as an important part of European culture, the organisers say.

According to the Sinagoga Maribor centre for Jewish cultural heritage, the project involves various organisers from the entire Europe every year. Last year, events were held in more than 400 towns in 28 European countries.

You can see the full Slovenian programme here