In Montenegro, on the Adriatic coast of the Balkan Peninsula, there is a monastery that attracts thousands of pilgrims and tourists not only for its shrines, but also for the extraordinary picturesque nature of its surroundings. It is called the Slavic word "fort", which in ancient times was called various defensive fortifications. It has been for centuries the stronghold of the Christian faith and piety in the lands so often subjected to invasions of the Gentiles.
Home of the mountains
The Ostrog Monastery was founded in the middle of the 17th century by one of the most revered saints in the Serbian Orthodox Church today, St. Basil of Ostrog. And to this day, his incorruptible relics rest in the monastery, and ancient books keep hundreds of records testifying to the miracles of healing that took place through the prayers of the saint. The image of the great ascetic can be seen both in the monastery church and on unique frescoes painted more than three centuries ago.
The Ostrog Monastery includes two cloisters located at different heights, which is reflected in their names accordingly: the Mountain Monastery is the upper one, and the Doniy Monastery is the lower one. They are builtwere at different times, but united in a common complex. The upper monastery, more ancient, was founded in 1665, and six years later the relics of its founder, St. Basil, rested in it. The central temple, consecrated in honor of the Ex altation of the Holy Cross of the Lord, is not the most ancient, even before it was built another, dedicated to the Presentation of the Most Holy Theotokos. There is reason to believe that its laying preceded the appearance of the founder of the monastery in this mountainous region.
Holiday in the mountain retreat
The day of memory of St. Basil of Ostrog is May 12 - the date of his blessed Assumption, which happened in 1671. Every year, thousands of pilgrims come here from all over the Christian world to honor his name and offer prayers near the shrine with relics. This famous Ostrog Monastery opens its doors to everyone. The reviews of those who have made the pilgrimage serve as a convincing recommendation for those who are just planning it.
In 1820 the lower monastery was founded. Its foundation is associated with the names of two prominent figures of the Serbian Orthodox Church - Archimandrite Joseph Pavicevich and St. Peter Citinsky, who was the Montenegrin Metropolitan in those years. This monastery is dedicated to the Holy Trinity, in whose honor the throne of its central church is consecrated.
The later part of the complex
Above it, on a hill, is the Church of the Holy Martyr Stank, built in 2004 and being the latest construction of the entire monastery complex. This saint of God became famous for the fact that in 1712 he wasexecuted by the Turks for refusing to convert to Islam. His imperishable right hand is kept in a church recently built in his honor. Twenty-seven defenders of the monastery are also buried here, who in 1943 blocked the way for the communists who tried to seize the monastery. Their memory is sacred to the people of Serbia.
Everyone who visits the Ostrog Monastery will be interested in seeing the ancient ruins located near the lower part of the complex, next to the ancient monastery cemetery. This is all that remains of the church of St. George built here in the 13th century. Over the centuries, it has repeatedly experienced Turkish invasions and was destroyed, but each time it was restored, and services were resumed in it. Only after the Muslim invasion in 1895 was it not rebuilt, and today only moss-covered stones remind of the former shrine.
The path to the holy monastery
Often, those wishing to make a pilgrimage have a question: how to get to the Ostrog Monastery? Of course, if you use the services of some travel company (and there are many of them), then there will be no problems. For those who intend to travel by their own transport, we note that the Ostrog Monastery is located in the area between the cities of Danilovgrad and Niksic. Be sure to stock up on a car card before you hit the road.
If you follow from Danilovgrad, then after driving about 15-20 km, you can see it from the right side of the road. The turn to it is indicated by a road sign. True, you have to navigate further,relying mainly on their own intuition and common sense, since at subsequent forks only an abundance of shopping pavilions and souvenir stalls will indicate the right direction of the path.
Features of the route leading to the monastery
The road leading directly to the monastery presents the same difficulties as any mountain road, and when moving along it, it is necessary to observe the whole range of security measures. It is unnecessary to dwell on them in the article, since every driver who has passed an exam for the right to drive a car in his time must, having rummaged through his memory, remember them. By the way, local legend claims that Vasily Ostrozhsky himself patronizes everyone traveling along this road. Maybe that's why accidents rarely happen here.
And more useful information for those wishing to visit the Ostrog Monastery in Montenegro. The reviews of many who have been here contain practical advice to those who have yet to travel, and among them the ascent from the lower monastery to the upper one is especially often mentioned. This path can be done by car, and its length will be five kilometers.
Additional information for pilgrims
But for those who wish, there is also a walking route along a path that rises steeply uphill. Those who prefer it are strongly advised to stock up on water and, without overestimating their strength, arrange h alts along the way as often as possible. Otherwise, the treacherous mountain path and the sun can play a trick on the beginner, spoiling the impression of the whole trip.
When the goal of the ascent is reached and the pilgrims find themselves in the cave of the upper monastery, where the relics of St. Basil of Ostrog are kept, they must certainly keep in mind that they are followed by a huge number of other pilgrims, a line of which presses outside. You need to prepare for this in advance and, once in the cave, quickly whisper your requests addressed to the saint, put a note with their list and, kissing the cancer, give way to others.
In conclusion, we wish good luck to everyone who has planned a pilgrimage to the Ostrog Monastery in Montenegro. How to get here and how to avoid the inconvenience associated with the peculiarities of the mountain landscape was described in this article. We hope that the information will be useful.
