Ostrog Monastery in Montenegro: description and travel

Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims annually go to holy places to honor them with their visit, as well as ask for health, happiness, vitality from the heavenly intercessors. There are places that the whole world knows about, for example, Jerusalem. There are those about which not everyone has heard or have approximate information. For example, many probably know the name of Vasily Ostrozhsky by ear, but they know almost nothing about the monastery associated with it. But this is one of the main attractions of Montenegro.

The current Serbian Orthodox monastery is called a jail. It is remarkable in many respects. The first is its location. A man’s monastery was built right on the cliff at an altitude of 900 m above sea level. And this really special location of the monastery attracts more and more pilgrims to its walls. But not only the geography of the place makes the structure unique.

Ostrog Monastery in Montenegro is a story that is well known, captured in various sources, extant to our times in a recognizable form. The date of foundation of the monastery can be considered the XVII century. We must thank Vasily Ostrozhsky, Metropolitan Bishop of Herzegovina, for this. He was canonized after his death, and today it is one of the most revered saints in Serbia and Montenegro.

The real name of Vasily Ostrozhsky is Stoyan Jovanovic. Since childhood, parents, wishing their son a better life, sent him to his uncle in the monastery. In Trebin, he took the tonsure, choosing for himself the life of an ascetic forever. Becoming a bishop was a difficult decision for this man; he did not do so with great desire. But fortunately, Vasily agreed and subsequently built that very outstanding monastery in the mountains.He built it all his life, only death stopped the construction, which made great sense to the bishop.

Interesting fact! Seven years after the repose of Vasily Ostrog, the rector of the monastery of St. Luke had a dream where the deceased bishop asked to open his grave in Ostrog. The dream was repeated again and again, which was perceived as a heavenly sign, and together with the monks the abbot did indeed go to Ostrog. Fasting and prayer at the grave lasted seven days, only after that the last refuge of Vasily Ostrozhsky was opened. His body was well preserved, the aroma of basil emanated from him. The relics were transferred to the Upper Monastery, to this day they rest in the Vvedensky church.

Alas, there was no complete rest for the monastery for all the centuries of its existence. It was necessary to protect the shrine on a rock, mainly from the Turks. And during the Second World War, a German bomb fell into the Holy Trinity Church on the monastery territory. Is it not miracles that the bomb broke, but it didn’t explode ?! Shell fragments are still stored in the monastery.

If you return to Vasily Ostrozhsky, whose name is holy to the Orthodox, there is a legend that a chic vine grew at the place of his death. To this day, many women who dream of giving birth to a baby believe that grapes from the place of tranquility of the saint will help them in this.

The territory of the Ostrog monastery is interesting in itself - there are several objects that will open to the visitor gradually.

For example, the Lower Monastery was built relatively recently, in the 19th century. It has several cells, the Church of the Holy Trinity, as well as a guest house, which serves as a night shelter for pilgrims. One berth will cost about 5 euros. They will wake the visitor early, at about 5 in the morning.

The relics of the youth Stanko are buried in this very church - this is a 12-year-old boy; his hands were chopped off during the difficult years of the Turkish persecution because he did not let the Orthodox cross out of them. After martyrdom, the boy is canonized.

It is located three kilometers from the Lower. We must immediately prepare for the fact that the road to this part of the shrine is dangerous, difficult for any traveler, in a certain sense, risky. Although believers rarely use it, there is a short path, forest.

Two churches are located on the territory of the Upper Monastery - Vvedenskaya and Krestovozdvizhenskaya. Many and many pilgrims are rushing to Vvedenskaya, which can be understood: Vasily Ostrozhsky himself spent 15 years here in tireless prayers. It is surprising that the size of the shrine is more than modest - 3 by 3 m. At the entrance you can see the carved icon of the bishop on the rock.

Two churches in the caves managed to survive, since there were no wooden structures in them. Now in the monastery - these are the most important and revered places. The monastic cells were rebuilt.

Vvedensky church is a place where the relics of Vasily Ostrozhsky rest.

The Holy Cross Exaltation Church has such a name, since it is believed that the part of the cross on which Jesus was crucified was donated to the rectors of the temple during its construction. The temple is located in a cave on the upper monastery floor. Her frescoes were painted by the Serbian artist Radul. And although it’s damp inside the temple, the frescoes are well preserved. Their uniqueness is that he worked on Radul frescoes directly on the rock walls. And they depict St. Basil, St. Sava, as well as episodes from the life of Jesus, religious festivities.

During the tour, tourists will be interested to see:

• Cancer with the relics of St. Basil of Ostrog;
• healing spring, water from which is free for every visitor;
• chains considered evidence of the healing of a person suffering from rabies (stored in the Holy Cross Church);
• the wreckage of a shell that hit the temple during the Second World War;
• the holy relics of 12-year-old Stanko.

On religious holidays, there are especially many pilgrims at the monastery walls. In summer, most of them try to climb to the Upper Monastery on foot, although local minibuses offer a pick-up service. If a believer is convinced, very religious, and he came to these places to ask for something from St. Basil, he can go the way to him barefoot or even on his knees.

On the day of the death of Vasily Ostrozhsky, May 12, pilgrims try to spend the night at the monastery walls. By the way, the simplest bedding can be taken on site. Overnight is needed in order to catch the morning prayer. And although there is a pilgrimage room, which with a stretch can be called a mini-hotel, especially religious people prefer an overnight stay in the open.

It would seem that what could be remarkable in the souvenir shop that operates at every monastery? But the assortment of what can be purchased at the Ostrog monastery shop really deserves attention. Candles, incense sticks and icons are a standard set for such places, but here you can still become the owner of broyanits, silver and gold pendants depicting shrines, amulets.

You can buy here honey, and olive oil, and wine. In memory of the trip, you can take away from here healing aromatic oils (really high-quality), natural cosmetics. By the way, the latter, no matter how rude it may sound, could be just a marketing move, but its quality is really high according to the reviews of those who bought and used it.

A bit more about broyanytsy. This is the name of the special beads that are worn on the arm. In the place of interweaving of such beads there is a cross; it can be plastic or metal. There are 33 knots in the brooch, and each knot consists of 7 cross-weaves. This is a very strong and durable decoration that will cost a tourist a couple of euros. They are sold in several colors: black speaks of asceticism, white - purity and innocence, blue will protect the owner from overvoltage, and red - from envious glances. Weave sheepskin wool.

You can buy it not only to yourself - often these jewelry are taken in order to present them as a gift to loved ones. They are usually worn on the left hand. There is an opinion that wearing a broyanits is equivalent to wearing a native Orthodox cross.

You can also buy brandy in a souvenir shop. So called a strong drink, in essence, which is brandy. The strongest brandy is plum brandy, and there is also brandy made from apricot, quince, apples, grapes. They make brandy and based on honey and herbs. You can buy a drink in very beautiful bottles, so for a presentation from the holy places of Montenegro, the drink is more than suitable.

It is unlikely that you will leave a souvenir shop without buying local honey - mountain, forest, meadow, flower, linden ... The choice is very large and pleasant. Local grains of honey, pumpkin and sunflower are added to honey, a delicious treat is obtained. And if you buy honey with figs and nuts, you are unlikely to find something similar somewhere else.

They make monks from the fruits of local olive trees and olive oil. You can also buy wine here: Vranac (red) and Krstach (white). And next to it in a good assortment of medicinal syrups. Cosmetics are made with goat milk, beeswax and mountain herbs. Water for cosmetics is taken directly from a healing source.

In Budva, a tourist can rent a car, which greatly facilitates the further logistics of routes.Several roads lead to the monastery, each one can be reached: one goes through Danilovgrad, the other from Bogetici, the third from Niksic. Many consider the road through Danilovgrad the safest for tourists who are not sophisticated with serpentines.

The second way is to use public transport services. There is no direct connection from Budva to Ostrog, however strange it may be. Therefore, the path will consist of several stages:

• from Budva to Podgorica by bus (one and a half hours);
• from Podgorica to Ostrog by train (40 minutes);
• from the railway station to the monastery on foot or by taxi: on foot it will be about an hour and free, by taxi - 15 minutes and about 20 euros.

If you get yourself, outside the tour group, be sure to secure travel expenses (transport will have to be changed), for unforeseen expenses. See your future route on the map in advance.

The most interesting section of the path, many tourists consider the path from the railway station Dabovichi directly to the monastery. The length of this trail is about 4 km, the entire path is an asphalt road, walking along which vineyards and farms will open up to your eyes. There is the possibility of hitchhiking. But this path is simply created for walking - amazingly beautiful views, changing landscapes.

And there is still a way from the Ostrog railway station, which, although shorter, is harder to overcome. The quality of the trail is so heavy in places that without tracking shoes you will have to be tight. Hitchhiking is excluded, infrastructure along the way is in the red.

Remember that the desecration of the feelings of believers is not just words and cause for discord. Therefore, try to comply with all the rules for visiting the Ostrog monastery. These are, first of all, clear requirements for vestments. Shoulders and knees, no matter how hot, should be covered by both women and men. T-shirts and shorts you can use on the road, but in the monastery you will have to change this outfit to shirts and trousers for men, as well as skirts and scarves for women’s shoulders.

On the territory of the shrine it is forbidden to smoke, bring pets with you. It is impossible to shoot and photograph inside the temples.

Also prepare for the fact that some points may be unusual for you. For example, candles are not placed here under the icons in the temple - they are placed outside the church, in special boxes with sand and water. Also, trust is built on how much you took the candles, whether you paid their cost - no one checks this.

If you decide to stay in a pilgrim house, you will be accommodated in a room where 10 guests can be simultaneously. There are beds, a common washing area, a kitchen-dining room (it is possible to make coffee, warm food).

For many years, people from different countries go to Vasily Ostrozhsky for help, often in the hope of a miracle. And this was during the life of the clergyman: he gave shelter to the homeless, fed the hungry, and finally helped with advice. Many people, according to the responses, after visiting the shrine received physical and / or mental healing. There is evidence of the healing of mentally ill people. If deep faith calls you to these places, then you need to visit every corner of the monastery, and the peak of the pilgrimage will be a touch of the miraculous relics of Vasily Ostrozhsky. But an ordinary tourist will probably remember this unique place.

Overview of the Ostrog monastery in Montenegro in the video below.