Ostrog monastery

Ostrog monastery

Monastery of Ostrog.
Monastery information
Full Name	Манастир Острог
Order	Serbian Orthodox
Established	17th century Renovated 1923-1926
Dedicated to	Saint Basil of Ostrog
People
Founder(s)	Archbishop Vasilije
Site
Location	Bjelopavlići plain, Montenegro
Visible Remains	Archbishop Vasilije

The Monastery of Ostrog (Serbian: Манастир Острог/Manastir Ostrog, pronounced [ɔ̌strɔg]) is a monastery of the Serbian Orthodox Church placed against an almost vertical background, high up in the large rock of Ostroška Greda, in Montenegro. It is dedicated to Saint Basil of Ostrog (Sveti Vasilije Ostroški).

Upper church of Ostrog monastery

View from Ostrog upper monastery to Bjelopavlići plain

From the monastery, a superb view of the Bjelopavlići plain can be seen. Ostrog, monastery is the most popular pilgrimage place in Montenegro. The Monastery was founded by Vasilije, the Metropolitan Bishop of Herzegovina in the 17th century. He died there in 1671 and some years later he was glorified. His body is enshrined in a reliquary kept in the cave-church dedicated to the Presentation of the Mother of God to the Temple.

The present-day look was given to the Monastery in 1923-1926, after a fire which had destroyed the major part of the complex. Fortunately, the two little cave-churches were spared and they are the key areas of the monument. The frescoes in the Church of the Presentation were created towards the end of the 17th century. The other church, dedicated to the Holy Cross, is placed within a cave on the upper level of the monastery and was painted by master Radul, who successfully coped with the natural shapes of the cave and laid the frescoes immediately on the surface of the rock and the south wall. Around the church are the monastic residences, which together with the church building and the scenery make this monument outstandingly beautiful.

The Orthodox monastery of Ostrog is one of the most frequently visited on the Balkans. It is visited by believers from all parts of the world, either individually or in groups. It represents the meeting place of all confessions: the Orthodox, the Catholics and the Muslims. According to the stories of pilgrims, by praying by his body, many have been cured and helped in lessening the difficulties in their lives.

Burials

• Basil of Ostrog

External links

• Official site of Metropolia of Montenegro and the Littorals (Serbian)

Coordinates: 42°40′30″N 19°01′45″E / 42.675°N 19.02917°E / 42.675; 19.02917

Other references

• Mentioned in the 1889 novel Three Vassar Girls in Russia and Turkey on pages 75–76 as being "a seat of learning in the Middle Ages...In 1492 there was a printing-press established here, before the art of printing was in general use elsewhere. The press was used until 1852, when, during a Turkish invasion, the types were melted into bullets."