The Eucharist was celebrated on the altar in front of the church by the archbishop of Vrhbosna, Metropolitan Msgr. Tomo Vukšić. A dozen priests concelebrated, including: the dean of the Sutjeska deanery and the parish priest in Breza, rev. Pero Brkić and the parish priest in Jelaške, rev. Marcel Tunjić, who greeted those present before the Holy Mass began.

Thanks to all pastors and believers

In the homily, entitled Proud Mountain Believers and Dear Witnesses of Jesus, Msgr. Vukšić reminded that during the Eucharist at the celebration of anniversaries and patron saints, "thanks is given and remembrance to all the many people who, as Catholics, have glorified God here over the centuries and were witnesses to the gospel of Jesus and, as Croats, were a sign of the living presence of our people".

He then spoke about the rich history of the parish, which ceased to exist with the arrival of the Ottomans, but the memory of its existence remained in the people, and it was precisely because of this pious tradition that it was re-established 100 years ago. He further recalled the name of the first pastor, Rev. Petar Živković and "thanked all the spiritual shepherds who served this dear part of God's pious people, just as much as the Franciscans in the distant past as well as these over the past 100 years". "And only dear God knows if and how many times, like Elijah the prophet, in those trials together with him and his words, they cried out: 'I've had enough of everything, Lord. I can't do it anymore!'" said the archbishop and then read the poem of the Greek Catholic priest Jovan Hranilović Oj vi gorski svećenici neshvaćeni mučenici (Oj you mountain priests misunderstood martyrs).

In the final part of the homily, he spoke about St. Elijah, who because of preaching that the Lord is the only God and that only he should be worshiped and served, exposed himself to enormous danger.

"Despite human crises, in the figure of Elijah the prophet we find a 'model' of believers ready to remain faithful to the only God and sacrifice themselves for the purity of faith. Therefore, it is really instructive and stimulating to observe and to tell from this Mount how Elijah, after his 'desert crisis', a life and spiritual desert of loneliness more than a geographical one, after a crisis of abandonment, a crisis of loneliness, became a man of obedience to God, a man of inner purity, a man of prayer, away from worshiping the values of this world", said Msgr. At the end, Vukšić cried out, "May dear God, through the intercession of Elijah the prophet, bless everyone, spiritual shepherds and his entire flock, so that people always overcome trials, respect each other, be witnesses of God's love in the world, be zealous for the glory of God Almighty and thus seek his face".

The liturgical celebration was animated by the Vareš parish youth choir under the direction of OFM Leon Pendić.

At the end of the Holy Mass, after thanksgiving, rev. Marcel, parishioners Emilija and Biljana presented Archbishop Tomo with an appropriate gift.

The religious community prepared for the celebration of the anniversary and the second patron with a Triduum, and a spiritual renewal was also held.

Ancient parish

By the way, one of the three parishes in the Archdiocese of Vrhbosna which has the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is a religious community in Jelaške, which is located on the marginal slopes of Konjuh and Zvijezda in the Krivaja valley, on the traffic stretch from Olovo to Zavidovići. The centre of the parish is in the village of Stojčići. The toponym Jelaška itself is mentioned in the 14^th and 15^th centuries, and before the fall of Bosnia under Ottoman rule, they were part of the Royal Land - Bobovac. The old parish existed in the 15^th century, its patron saint was St. Elijah, and belonged to the Franciscan monastery in Olovo. After the invasion of the Ottomans, all traces of the parish were lost. However, in 1623 it was mentioned again as part of the Olovo monastery. Much later, in 1924, the request of the residents of Jelaške and Dištica was answered and it was restored. The original patron of the newly restored old parish was Finding of the Holy Cross, so that the Exaltation of the Holy Cross was then afterwards taken as the patron.