Presentation of a novel “A Couple of Birds and One Sky” held in Medjugorje

date: 01.12.2016.

After the evening prayer programme on Wednesday, November 30, a novel of Croatian writer Miro Gavran “ A couple of birds and one sky”, was presented in the Hall of John Paul II in Medjugorje. The organisers were parish office Medjugorje and Information Centre Mir Medjugorje. Fr. Marinko Sakota, Medjugorje parish priest, greeted all present and welcomed them to this event.

Along with the author of the book, Herzegovinian Franciscan and writer Fr. Ante Maric, professor of drama Dragan Komadina, spoke about this book, while actor of Croatian National Theatre from Mostar, Robert Pehar, read the excerpts from this novel during the evening.

The main theme of this novel is Fr. Didak Buntic, Franciscan who during the World War I, period of great famine in Herzegovina due to dry years, when many died of hunger, initiated salvation of children by transferring them to Slavonia and Sriem (northern Croatia), where they had foster families who saved them in those difficult times.

„I am really happy to be here in such wonderful company, at the right place, surrounded with people of good will, people who perceive this novel as something important, not just as one ordinary story. Both of my parents are from Herzegovina, and I am the only one born in Slavonia, so this story of Fr. Didak who took children from Herzegovina to Slavonia, is good for me, as I was able to connect the story as a writer related intimately to both of these regions “, said Mr. Gavran, who said on one occasion that even though it was not hard for him to write this novel, this is the most difficult one he ever wrote.

„The novel describes two plots, one that takes place in the period from 1917-1922, and the other that takes place between 1987-1997, and connects Zagreb, Mostar and Medjugorje. Certain skill was required to connect two periods and several different places. I hope this novel will be dear and close not just to people from Herzegovina and Croatia, but also to people from all other countries who will be reading translations of this novel“, said Mr. Gavran.

Vocal a capella group Signum from Čapljina performed during the evening and made this event more special. Parish office Medjugorje donated copies of this book to the schools in the area, so their libraries would have copies of this book. The representatives of the schools took those gifts at the end of this event. (photos)