Documentary Photographer
Empty seats in the overflow section of the Church of Saint James, Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina. With over 1 million international visitors annually, Medjugorje is one of Bosnia's biggest tourist draws, and a popular Catholic pilgrimage site rivalling sites like Lourdes in France. With the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, tourism has ground to a halt in the town, whose economy heavily relies on income from the yearlong stream of pilgrims.
The town of Medjugorje, whose Slavic name means "between two mountains". The ethnically Croat town of around 4000 sits in the southern Herzegovina region of Bosnia, close to the border with neighbouring Croatia. The once quiet, rural town has taken on international fame since 1981, when six local teenagers allege to have been visited by an apparition of the Virgin Mary on a nearby hill.
A statue of the Virgin Mary outside the Church of Saint James in Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The town has become a major Catholic pilgrimage site since 1981, when six local teenagers reported being visited by an apparition of the Virgin while walking on a hill overlooking the town.
A hotel catering to Polish pilgrims, Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
A group of Polish pilgrims treks up Apparition Hill on the outskirts of Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina, November 2019. In 1981, six local teenagers reported a visitation by the Virgin Mary, and have continued to experience regular communications with Her.
The path towards Apparition Hill in Medjugorje, November 2020. The global pandemic has slowed the influx of foreign visitors to Medjugorje.
A pilgrim walks barefoot towards the site where the Virgin Mary is alleged to have appeared in 1981, on a hill overlooking the town of Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
A souvenir shop in Medjugorje's town centre.
A shrine on Apparition Hill, near the site where the Virgin Mary is alleged to have appeared to six local teenagers in 1981, Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
A store selling religious souvenirs and icons, Medjugorje, November 2019. Medjugorje has become a major international Catholic pilgrimage site since six teenagers reported an apparition of the Virgin Mary in the early 1980s.
A shuttered souvenir shop, Medjugorje, November 2020. Much of the town's economy relies on the influx of foreign pilgrims, which has sharply declined during the coronavirus pandemic.
Ukrainian pilgrims trekking to the top of Mount Krizevac, near Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ukrainian pilgrims walk towards Mount Krizevac, a Catholic pilgrimage site near Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina, December 24th 2019.
Medjugorje, December 24th 2020. The coronavirus pandemic and resulting border restrictions has severely affected foreign visitors to the town.
Priests walk towards the summit of Mount Krizevac, a secondary pilgrimage site overlooking the town of Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Pilgrims pray on Mount Krizevac, the highest peak overlooking Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The cross atop the mountain was built in 1933 to commemorate the 1900th anniversary of the passion and death of Jesus.
Pilgrims praying with their heads rested against the large concrete cross at the summit of Mount Krizevac, a secondary pilgrimage site and the highest peak above Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
A souvenir shop selling icons and memorabilia of the Virgin Mary in Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Much of Medjugorje's economy revolves around the pilgrimage, with numerous hotels, restaurants and shops catering to the yearly influx of pilgrims from mainly Catholic majority countries around the world. Many of these businesses have been hit hard due to travel restrictions related to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Walking sticks in the lobby of Hotel Kenedy, one of a number of hotels catering to pilgrims in Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
A line of souvenir shops near Apparition Hill, one of the main pilgrimage sites in Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
A shrine on Apparition Hill, near the site where the Virgin Mary is alleged to have appeared to six local teenagers in 1981, Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Pilgrims gather at the summit of Mount Krizevac, overlooking Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina, December 24th 2019. Pilgrims often come to this site in addition to the nearby Apparition Hill, where the Virgin Mary is alleged to have appeared in 1981.
The summit of Mount Krizevac, Medjugorje, December 24th 2020.
A Ukrainian priest walks with a group heading down from a pilgrimage site on Mount Krizevac, on 24th December 2019, Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Medjugorje is especially popular with Ukrainian Catholics around this time of year, as the majority Orthodox Christian population of Ukraine celebrates Christmas in January.
A souvenir shop selling icons and memorabilia of the Virgin Mary in Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Much of Medjugorje's economy revolves around the pilgrimage, with numerous hotels, restaurants and shops catering to the yearly influx of pilgrims from mainly Catholic majority countries around the world. Many of these businesses have been hit hard due to travel restrictions related to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Ukrainian priests prepare to hold a Christmas Day mass on 25th December 2019 in Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
A hotel in central Medjugorje. During the summer high season, hotels in the town are usually booked up by large tour bus groups coming from most majority Catholic countries around the world.
A statue of Our Lady of Medjugorje, on display in the dining room of Hotel Kenedy, in Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The town's hospitality industry has been greatly affected by the loss of tourism in Bosnia due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. Medjugorje usually brings in over 1 million visitors per year, a majority of which come during the spring Holy Week and summer high season.
A group of Ukrainian pilgrims gather for Christmas Day mass at a chapel near Saint James' Church in Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Medjugorje is especially popular with Ukrainian Catholics around this time of year, as the majority Orthodox Christian population of Ukraine celebrates Christmas in January.
Placards displaying different languages for confessionals outside St.James' Cathedral, Medjugorje.
Ukrainian pilgrims pray during a Christmas Day mass on 25th December 2019, in Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Medjugorje is especially popular with Ukrainian Catholic pilgrims around this time of year, as the majority Orthodox Christian population of Ukraine celebrates Christmas in January.
Icons of the Virgin Mary for sale in a souvenir shop in the town centre of Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Pilgrims walk towards the site where the Virgin Mary allegedly appeared in 1981, Medjugorje, November 2019.
An empty path towards the site of the Virgin Mary's alleged appearance, Medjugorje, November 2020. Bosnia's borders were closed to foreigners for most of 2020, meaning the usual steady flow of pilgrims came to an almost complete halt.
