Franciscan Province of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Franciscan Province of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (officially Latin: Hercegovinae Assumptionis B.M.V. Provincia) is a province of the Franciscan order of the Catholic Church in Herzegovina. Its headquarters are currently in Mostar.

The Province includes monasteries in:

and priests of the province serve at 33 churches in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The province also conducts ministry for Croatian parishes and missions in Western Europe, the United States, and Canada, and conducts a mission in Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Franciscan friars came to the region of Bosnia in 1291 to help oppose the dualistic Bogomil sect, also called Patarenes, and the non-Catholic "Bosnian Christians". The first Franciscan vicariate in Bosnia was founded in 1339/40. In the 14th century, when the bishop of Bosnia (Vhrbosna) was forced to move to Djakovo (in modern-day Croatia), and the bishop of Trebinje moved to Dubrovnik, Franciscans took over a leadership role in the church in the region.

The Ottoman Empire gained control of Bosnia in 1463 and Herzegovina in 1482. The Franciscan order was promised toleration by Sultan Mehmed II the Conqueror in 1463. Friar Anđeo Zvizdović of the Monastery in Fojnica received the oath on 28 May 1463 at the camp of Milodraž.

The Ahdname of Milodraž stated:

"I, the Sultan Khan the Conqueror, hereby declare the whole world that, the Bosnian Franciscans granted with this sultanate ferman are under my protection. And I command that:

No one shall disturb or give harm to these people and their churches! They shall live in peace in my state. These people who have become emigrants, shall have security and liberty. They may return to their monasteries which are located in the borders of my state. No one from my empire notable, viziers, clerks or my maids will break their honour or give any harm to them!

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