The Ostrog Monastery is known not only in the Balkans, but throughout Europe. Its construction is associated with the name of St. Basil of Ostrog. The cult object appeared at a place of prayer - for many years, hermits secretly prayed in local caves. Stories about miracles, signs, and healings are associated with the monastery. The relics of St. Vasily Ostrozhsky.
Ostrog Monastery in Montenegro is known throughout Europe. This is a famous monastery in a rock or mountain, next to which a vine grows. The Monastery of Basil of Ostrog in Montenegro has experienced a lot; it almost suffered from bombing during the Second World War, but miraculously survived. In general, stories about various miracles are associated with the monastery. Their description takes up several volumes of monastery books.
Location of the monastery
If you look for the Ostrog monastery on a map of Montenegro, you will see that it is adjacent to the rock.
The complex consists of the Lower and Upper monasteries; two churches adjoin the Upper one: Vvedensky and Holy Cross. In the Ostrog monastery, the road between two buildings (upper and lower) is quite steep and winding. However, there is an “easier” path through the forest, only this road is longer and is 5 km. The monastery has a backstory; it was not built from scratch. Initially, there was a cave in the rock, hidden from prying eyes. Hermit monks spent their time here. They prayed secretly and did not strive for comfort. It’s difficult to say how long it lasted, but by the 17th century the place was already quite prayed for. In the 17th century, Elder Vasily appeared, known to the world as Stoyan Jovanovic. He was a pious man and had a certain reputation.
It was Elder Vasily who decided to build a full-fledged monastery here. Construction took time, the work was difficult - the rock had to be processed. But the work was crowned with success. Today, the elder’s relics are kept in the monastery; they are considered miraculous. By the way, it was under the elder that the most difficult work was done - the oldest part of the monastery is the upper one. The Lower Monastery was built already in the 19th century.
Even before construction began, the elder was considered a miracle worker. However, real miracles began to appear at the moment the monastery was built. As if Elder Vasily had a destiny - to found this monastery. Since then, miracles have not stopped. With the death of the elder, the signs did not disappear, and this began to attract people here. Most of the tourists who come to the monastery are pilgrims.
Today about 10 monks live here, this is normal. In the Moraca Monastery, for example, there are 7 inhabitants. There are also not very many ministers in other famous monasteries in Montenegro. Sometimes the number of monks in monasteries increases slightly.
Pilgrimage or excursion to a monastery: what to choose
Everyone who is going to visit holy places determines the purpose of the trip for themselves. Some are driven by curiosity and the desire to gain new experiences; others are called by deep faith, the need to touch their souls to a great miracle, to ask for the unseen, while those in despair come for support.
Therefore, you can hit the road as part of a tourist or pilgrimage group, and many decide to travel independently. Pilgrims often try to time their visit to the Ostrog Monastery to coincide with some religious holiday. Most often this is May 12 (the date of the Saint's death). During this period the flow of visitors is very high.
It is important for believers to feel the holiness of these places, so they go to the upper Ostrog along the path on foot , sometimes barefoot or on their knees. Pilgrims try to visit all the holy places of the monastery and, as a culmination, touch the miraculous relics of Vasily of Ostrog.
Usually believers want to stay longer in the monastery, spend the night near its walls, and prepare their souls for morning prayer. Those who wish to spend the night not under the roof, but in front of the monastery walls, take mattresses, blankets, pillows prepared especially for visitors, and settle down for the night in the open air.
From Ostrog, for loved ones and relatives who could not come, pilgrims try to take away a piece of blessing in the form of holy water, incense, lamp oil, incense, blessed icons, prosphora.
As for ordinary tourists, everything is much simpler here. The purpose of the excursion tour is to show the monastery, introduce it to its history, and advertise souvenirs.
Everything is fast, clear and according to plan. The excursion program is usually not limited only to a visit to Ostrog: it also includes acquaintance with other attractions of the surrounding places. The trip organizers also take care of food and accommodation for tourists.
Monastic shrines
Reviews about the Ostrog monastery are always positive. A peaceful atmosphere reigns here, grace flows in the air. Tourists can see the shrines of the monastery:
- Holy relics of Basil of Ostrog, Great Martyr Stanko;
- Healing spring;
- Grapevine;
- Chains with which the history of healing from rabies is connected;
- Fragments of a 1942 shell.
Each of the relics has a whole story associated with it. For example, a shell, which is stored today in the monastery, hit the Holy Cross Church in 1942 and was supposed to destroy the monastery. But for some reason it did not explode, but broke into two parts. The projectile was later checked - it turned out to be absolutely normal.
The vine grows in the rock in the place where Vasily Ostrozhsky died. Surprisingly, it gains strength and grows, and also bears fruit. Today, a special canopy has already been created to support the vine. Tourists must be shown this shrine. It is fenced with a small grille with a worship cross.
In addition to the relics of Vasily Ostrozhsky, the monastery houses the hands of the Great Martyr Stanko. Stanko was a boy of 12 years old, he suffered for not throwing up the cross. You can find many other relics in the monastery, but the ones listed are the most interesting. Stories of miraculous healings are associated with Ostrog.
The main relics are kept in the upper part of the monastery complex. But the main shrine is the relics of Elder Vasily of Ostrog. It is believed that it is enough to make a wish in front of the cancer and it will come true. The relics are kept in a small cave located in the Vvedenskaya Church. There are already known cases when the relics healed and helped to find what they wanted. Of course, the desire must be pure and sincere. Every day people come to the relics - the flow of those wishing does not dry out. However, there is no crowd on the territory of the monastery, tourists do not feel cramped.
History of the place
The years that fell in his ministry were formidable. The people, exhausted from the Turkish raids, almost lost both themselves and their faith. The works of Saint Basil inspired faith and courage in the Montenegrins, helped preserve the living soul, preventing not only the spiritual, but also the physical destruction of the people. What it cost him, only God knows: slander, threats, persecution.
In the last years of his life, Saint Basil moved the metropolitan residence to a hard-to-reach fort. Just 30 years after his death, Montenegro became free. The presence of the personality of Saint Basil was extremely important at that time, because the Turks, during their yoke, destroyed all the sacred attributes of the Serbs. They did this because they knew that the Serbs received enormous moral support, having faith in a higher power behind them.
Also during World War II, soldiers of Nazi Germany tried to demolish this shrine from the face of the earth, but a miracle happened. In February 1942, during an artillery shelling, a shell hit the stone wall above the top of the monastery, but broke apart instead of exploding. According to the monks, the holy forces did not allow the projectile to do this, so as not to damage their shrines.
The monks live in the lower part of the monastery . They go through the so-called “turn” - duty near the relics of Vasily, which lasts up to a week. There are 12 monks in total who currently live here. They lead an ordinary life: services, prayers, and chores. The church also hosts funerals, weddings, and christenings.
With the blessing of St. Basil, the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross was built by Hieromonk Isaiah in the 1660s. The height of the ceiling vaults is different, the altar is located in an extremely interesting way: it is turned to the south and covers most of the hall. The original paintings created by Radul and Jovan, famous icon painters of that time, are still preserved here.
The Entry of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the temple is the main church of the monastery . It is also carved into the rock. It was in this place that Saint Basil spent 15 years in a feat of prayer. Unfortunately, you can’t take pictures inside, but you can see the exterior of this temple, where the relics are located.
How to get there
Pilgrims are often interested in the question of how to get to the Ostrog Monastery. The easiest option is to sign up for a tour. It’s not enough to find a monastery on a map of Montenegro - you need to plan a route correctly. The terrain here is difficult, there is a risk of getting lost. In addition, there are many serpentines in Montenegro, along which you need to move with caution. When tourists go with a guide, they are held accountable. Vacationers are taken along a proven route.
Tourists usually pass through Podgorica. Many pilgrimage excursions are arranged in such a way that tourists are shown shrines, and at last they leave the most important one - the Ostrog Monastery. Here you can see the most serious evidence that miracles exist. People want to see evidence of faith overcoming obstacles.
Significance of the monastery
There are many Orthodox and general Christian relics that are of great importance to believers. These are shrines that are visited by millions of tourists. How to assess the significance of Ostrog? Experts confidently claim that Ostrog is on the level of such shrines as the Holy Sepulcher and Golgotha. Only Montenegro is located far from the holy land, but this does not detract from the status of the monastery.
Many miracles have already happened here, confirming the importance of the place. Monks prepared this place for hundreds of years before the monastery was founded here. The monastery appeared where hermits had been serving for a long time. These are the places that can be considered the most important.
There is a narrow serpentine road leading to Ostrog from the capital; the road seems dangerous and inconvenient. However, locals claim that there have never been any accidents on the road. At least, such that someone would suffer serious damage or injury. Serpentine is difficult to protect from such accidents.
Description of the monastery
Ostrog Monastery is a great shrine of Montenegro, hidden from prying eyes high in the rock. Where all Orthodox Christians have the opportunity to talk one-on-one with God. The shrine is located on a place of prayer where for several decades ascetic monks offered their prayers to God in secret. The Ostrog Monastery is associated with the name of St. Basil of Ostrog, who devoted half his life to the prosperity of the temple. Every year thousands of believers from all over the world make a pilgrimage to the Ostroh shrine.
Ostrog Monastery is a functioning temple of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro, located 900 meters above sea level, in the mountains. It is located 15 kilometers from Danilovgrad and 13 kilometers from Niksic. The time of its construction is determined by official documents in the 17th century. Within the walls of the shrine rest the miraculous relics of the founding father - the patron and wonderworker Vasily of Ostrog.
The Ostrog Temple in Montenegro is the only sacred Orthodox place visited by pilgrims not only of the Christian faith, but also by Jews and Muslims. There are currently 12 monks serving in the monastery.
Features of the trip
You can get here by excursion bus or by your own car. The road to the monastery is absolutely safe and simple, it goes quickly and without problems. All you need is a map with a route.
There will be from 20 to 40 people on the tour bus . Then there will be experienced guides who will tell a huge number of stories about the place and answer any questions that arise. You should also choose a convenient time to travel to the monastery: usually after lunch.
Many pilgrims get here by bus, but it is believed that a true committed traveler will come here on foot. Some walk barefoot, because it is believed that the soul of a person who has walked this path, sometimes even on his knees, is freed from sins. Many stay here overnight to spend this time with Saint Basil, gain strength, grace and start a new life.
Usually during the day a huge queue gathers here to enter the monastery, receive grace from St. Basil and be saved from the persecution of grief.
Miracles of the Ostrog Shrine
From the photos on the Internet you can understand that the Montenegrin monastery of Ostrog is a miracle in itself, as if it had grown in an impregnable rock. You can admire its temples for a long time, and even more time will be spent thinking about the essence of the world, while examining the dizzying panorama of the surrounding territories. However, the Ostrog Monastery has gained world fame for a reason, because within its walls there are real miracles that are difficult to give an objective assessment.
Relics of Vasily Ostrogsky
The main attraction of the Ostrog monastery, which is of interest to all tourists on excursions to the shrines of Montenegro. Upon arrival at the temple, everyone goes to the coffin installed on a special pedestal, trimmed with red cloth, where the relics of St. Basil of Ostrog rest. It is believed that touching the relics helps heal not only physical, but also spiritual illnesses.
Over the entire history of storing the remains, there were many cases of looting of the Ostrog monastery, but each time the relics were saved, which is an absolute miracle.
Relics of the Holy New Martyr Stanko
Reviews of visits to Ostrog in Montenegro do not always talk about this miracle. However, its inspection must be included in the excursion program. Every guest of the monastery can see and touch the relics of the 12-year-old New Martyr Stanko. During his lifetime, he did not renounce the Orthodox faith under threat of death, for which the Turks cut off his hands.
Grapevine - a miracle on top
The miracle of the vine is that the plant cannot grow at an altitude of more than 600 meters above sea level, but here the vine took root literally in the rock and blossomed as if in fertile soil. According to legend, known in Montenegro, it arose from a stone in Ostrog in the place where Vasily Ostrohsky breathed his last. Today the miracle vine is fenced, but anyone can see it.
Military shell fragments
Another amazing story happened to the monastery in 1941. A military shell flew into the monastery, but miraculously did not explode, but split in half. Proof of this miracle can be seen within the walls of the temple.
Book of prayers and ancient candlesticks
These are no longer miracles, but ancient relics. Inside the Upper Monastery there are ancient silver candlesticks and a prayer book from the 18th century.
Birth of the Lavra
Vasily Ostrozhsky, a saint, whose name at birth is Stoyan, was born into a family of believing parents, was born on December 28 in 1610, and at a fairly early age he entered a monastery. Vasily, the former Stoyan, quickly earned the respect of his fellow believers and at the age of 28 became a bishop. Soon the clergyman reunited the eastern and western metropolises of Herzegovina.
The oppression of representatives of the Catholic faith and the Turks forced the Metropolitan and other Orthodox Christians to settle in Ostrog. The educator was engaged in religious teachings, fed the hungry, provided housing for the persecuted, and provided them with assistance, especially at a time when Orthodoxy was going through difficult trials and believers were subjected to a forcible change of faith.
Vasily Ostrozhsky is considered a miracle worker. People of completely different confessions visit Ostrog in order to venerate the relics of the saint. It is believed that it heals not only physical illnesses, but also mental illnesses, and the reason for pilgrimage here is the recorded facts of miracles.
Opponents of the faith often burned and looted the monastery, but the relics were always saved in some unusual way. The miracles do not end with this feature in Ostrog, a monastery in Montenegro. Local ministers can tell many interesting and surprising stories.
