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This is one of the most visited monasteries in the world

The Monastery of Ostrog is a monastery of the Serbian Orthodox Church situated on a cliff called Ostroska Greda, in Montenegro.

It is one of the most visited Christian monasteries on the planet and is the most popular pilgrimage place in Montenegro.

The monastery was founded by the Metropolitan Bishop of Herzegovina St Basil or Vasilije in 1665. Vasilije brought his monks here after the Ottomans destroyed Tvrdoš Monastery near Trebinje. He decided to build three caves in the rocks.

The first one was the Church of the Presentation for the monks to pray, the second a bedroom for guests, and in the third he decided to build a chapel to house religious artifacts.

The monastery is located 50km from Podgorica and 15km from Nikšić. Photo Credit
The monastery is located 50km from Podgorica and 15km from Nikšić. Author: Grigory Gusev CC BY 2.0
St Basil was born 28th December 1610 in Herzegovina. Photo Credit
St Basil was born 28th December 1610 in Herzegovina. Author:Saint-Petersburg Theological Academy CC BY 2.0

He died in 1671 and some years later he was glorified. There is a reliquary where his body is enshrined in the cave-church dedicated to the Presentation of the Mother of God to the Temple.

From afar, the monastery looks like it defies gravity. Photo Credit
From afar, the monastery looks like it defies gravity. Author:Saint-Petersburg Theological Academy CC BY 2.0

The monastery is divided into two parts: the lower monastery and the upper monastery.

A Chapel below Ostrog monastery. Photo Credit
A Chapel below Ostrog monastery. Author:Michael Tyler CC BY 2.0

The lower monastery is 2 km below the main shrine or the Church of the Holy Trinity that was built in 1824.  There are rooms available where pilgrims can find a place for the night. The upper monastery houses the Church of the Presentation and the Church of the Holy Cross which are the main areas of the monastery.

The Upper monastery. Photo Credit
The Upper monastery. Author: Diego Delso CC BY 3.0

According to Lonely Planet, this part is dubbed ‘Sv Vasilije’s miracle” because no one seems to understand how it was built. Another miracle is the vine which grows out of the rock. It is said it’s a miracle because nothing should be able to grow out of the rock.

The present-day look was given to the Monastery in 1923-1926. Photo Credit
The present-day look was given to the Monastery in 1923-1926. 

The pilgrims have a tradition which is to walk 3 km from the lower monastery to the upper monastery barefoot. They make a donation of clothing, blankets or soap for the monks before entering the Church of the Presentation.

Another interesting story from us: Dates back to the 460s AD and is one of the best-preserved churches of this period in the region

According to the Gregorian calendar, St Basil died on 12 May and the monastery celebrates its feast day on this date every year.

Marija Georgievska

Marija Georgievska is one of the authors writing for The Vintage News