Montenegro: Ostrog is one of the places most esteemed by Orthodox Christians

It is difficult to find a more religious country than Montenegro. Ostrog is a local landmark, a place where pilgrims come from all over the world. Despite the fact that it is an Orthodox shrine, among the believers you can also see Muslims and Catholics. The monastery, though not the oldest in Montenegro, but it is connected with so many legends, real stories and events that it is considered one of the main symbols of the country. Initially, unknown monks lived in the caves, who wanted to live in seclusion and spend all their free time in prayers.

At one time, the Ottoman yoke survived Montenegro. Ostrog in those days became a stronghold for the rebels who fought against the conquerors. The monastery was famous in the XVII century, when Vasily Ostrozhsky came to one of the churches, located in a cut cave at an altitude of 900 m above sea level. At that time he was known far beyond the country. Saint from the very childhood he served God, when he became an adult, he built churches, helped the sick and poor, he raised the spirit of his people with prayer. The monastery carved into the rock became a symbol of the national idea and the custodian of faith, and this was exactly what Montenegro needed those days.

Ostrog is divided into two parts: Lower and Upper. Shares them somewhere 5 km, pilgrims pass this road on foot, usually using a short way. The lower monastery was built in the XIX century, it consists of the church of the Holy Trinity and cells. It is noteworthy for the remains of the 15-year-old martyr Stanko, which are kept in it. The Basurmans cut off his hands for disobedience, the refusal to abandon the Holy Cross and the fact that he openly called himself a Christian. Of course, during the Turkish yoke of many such unhappy people, Montenegro knew.

Ostrog, located at the top, contains the greatest number of attractions. It consists of the Cross and Virgin Church of the Virgin Mary. In the second church, Saint Basil spent 15 years, the building is very small, only 3х3 meters. Here on the rock there is an icon of Ostrozhsky, an ark with its relics, temple candlesticks and a prayer book are kept.

Monastery Ostrog in Montenegro has seen many wars and battles. Monks are happy to retell the legends about the miracles that have happened in this holy place. The Turkish commander Numan-pasha in 1714 walked around the country, burning and carving everything in its path. Then the monks saved their relics by digging them on the banks of the Zeta River. In 1852, Omer Pasha was traveling with his army to Ostrog, but the prince's brother imperceptibly slipped past the conqueror with a hundred warriors and took away the shrine. They say that the relics made them invisible.

During the Second World War, the monastery Ostrog also suffered many troubles. Montenegro (a photo of those times show the state in which the country was) was bombed by fascists. In 1942 one of the shells got into the church, he knocked out the door, split into two parts, but did not explode. Today people come to the monastery to ask for forgiveness for their sins, to be healed of various diseases. In the cracks of the rocks believers put notes with requests. Ostrog has become one level with the Jerusalem and New Athos shrines.