The President of the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), Janez Janša, delivered a powerful message during the traditional solemn mass for the homeland, held in honor of Slovenia’s Statehood Day. Speaking to a congregation gathered to mark the nation’s independence, Janša described the period of Slovenia’s independence as “our treasure,” calling it a “sacred time” that must be preserved and respected by future generations.
“This sacred time of independence is our treasure,” Janša said during his address. “It is not only a memory but a living foundation of who we are as a nation — a time when courage, unity, and faith defined our path to freedom.”
The solemn mass, celebrated annually around Statehood Day on June 25, draws political figures, members of the clergy, and the public to reflect on the country’s historic break from Yugoslavia in 1991. Janša, who played a significant role during the independence movement as Minister of Defence at the time, regularly uses the occasion to highlight the importance of national sovereignty, democratic values, and remembrance of those who contributed to the country’s freedom.
This year’s ceremony took on a particularly reflective tone as Slovenia marks 34 years since declaring independence. Janša emphasized the need to cherish and defend the legacy of independence, noting that “only a people who remember where they come from can know where they are going.”
The event was held at the Church of St. Nicholas in Ljubljana and included prayers for peace, unity, and the continued prosperity of the Slovenian nation.
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