To the great joy and grace of the Orthodox people of Herzegovina, but also of Orthodoxy throughout the world, at the Council of the Serbian Orthodox Church, held in May 2025, Saint Blessed Ana, mother of Saint Basil of Ostrog and Tvrdoš, was canonized. After the Liturgy at the Monastery in Mrkonjići, the birthplace of Saint Basil, on May 12, Metropolitan Dimitrije announced that a request for her canonization had been submitted to the Council of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and yesterday the news that Saint Blessed Ana had been canonized was greeted with great joy in Herzegovina. May 13 is designated as the day of her celebration in the church calendar.

Metropolitan Dimitrije then emphasized the importance of the mother of Saint Basil, speaking after the Liturgy in Mrkonjići, where thousands of believers flocked to his feast day, not only from Herzegovina, but from all over the Republika Srpska and the region. His Eminence Bishop Maxim of Western America, who presided over the Holy Liturgy at the Monastery of Saint Basil of Ostrog and Tvrdoš in Mrkonjići, emphasized that it was here that the saint received from his parents the faith that he transmitted, instilled and inspired many peoples with, both during his earthly life and today.

“People approach his holy and honorable tomb and relics regardless of their differences, regardless of which people they belong to and whether they believe in the Christian God. The power of Saint Basil as a saint attracts them,” emphasized Bishop Maxim.

Discovery of the relics of Saint Blessed Anne

Let us recall that two years ago, near Trebinje, in Mrkonjići, the relics of Saint Blessed Anne, mother of Saint Basil, were found. Orthodox believers received the grace of finding the earthly remains of the saint's mother, Anne, on May 8, 2023, just a few days before the celebration of the feast of Saint Basil.

Despite the fact that little is known about the details of the life of Ana Jovanović, her personality has not been forgotten in the book of eternal life. Especially since she is a pious mother who gave birth to, raised, and handed over to the service of God her only son, small in age, but great in wisdom and readiness for the complete service of God. Ana Jovanović inscribed herself not only in the eternal book, but in the book of all hearts that constantly offer prayers to Saint Basil of Ostrog, asking for his intercession and intercession before the Lord.

The light of beautiful and blessed joy warmed Ana on the day she gave birth to her son, on December 28, 1610, in Mrkonjići in Popovo Polje. She was a pious, quiet, prayerful and hardworking Christian mother, a mother who tried with her whole being to ensure that the honorable house of Jovanović did not succumb to numerous temptations, but that all temptations were overcome by honesty, hard work and a pious life, thus making their home a Church in miniature. Little Stojan learned his first school of piety precisely in the warm and loving embrace of his mother, who taught him the prayer rule and basic Christian virtues. Her maternal love and fervent prayer for her child were so strong that Stojan, even as a child, was an example of honesty and piety, not only in their modest home, but also in the entire Popovo Polje region.

Despite this extremely difficult life cross, Ana thanked God on every new day. She raised her gratitude to God because she had in her mind and heart the words of the Apostle Paul who says: “I can do all things through Christ Jesus who gives me strength!” Ana implemented these words in her life, because there was no obstacle or difficulty in life that she did not overcome, precisely by placing her hope in the Lord.

Through the prayers of Saint Blessed Anne, mother of Saint Basil of Tvrdoš and Ostrog, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us!

Source: Diocese of Zahumlje, Herzegovina and the Littoral