Bosnian Church

The Bosnian Church (Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian: Crkva bosanska Latin: Ecclesia bosniensis) is historically thought to be an indigenous branch of the Bogomils that existed in Bosnia during the Middle Ages. Adherents of the church called themselves simply Krstjani ("Christians"). The Order of the Dragon made famous by Vlad the Impaler, i.e., "Dracula", was originally given its impetus of existence, not only simply by the "pagan Turks", but by the dualist Bosnian Church and the knights and nobility affiliated and attached to the underground religious society. The Ottoman conquest is thought by mainstream historians as terminating the church's existence or influence, but the subject of the extent of survival and influence is currently academically in dispute. The church's organization and beliefs are poorly understood, because few if any records were left by church members, and the church is mostly known from the writings of outside sources, primarily Roman Catholic ones.