A Place Where Miracles Happen
The miracles of the Ostrog Monastery in Montenegro.
Not many know that one of the most popular holy places in the whole world for Orthodox Christians is the Ostrog monastery situated in Montenegro. It is the most significant monastery in the Balkans and the most visited Orthodox shrine in Europe.
I have visited Ostrog only twice in my life — and it has always left a profound impression on me. It is a true masterpiece of nature and mankind. It is situated inside the large rock , around 900 meters above sea level near the town of Danilovgrad — where my father was born.
The monastery was was established in the 17th century in the honor of Saint Vasilije (Basil) of Ostrog who was buried inside and who is believed to have miraculous powers for many pilgrims who come to visit Ostrog.
It was Saint Basil’s decision to build this monastery in Montenegro into a cliff in order to protect because this was the time when the Ottoman Empire was causing havoc in the area.
But the legends says that St Basil was also guided by God to create something special.Each year there are thousands of visitors from all over the world, of all nationalities and religions.
The Ostrog monastery consist of two parts: the Upper and the Lower.
The Upper monastery is situated at the altitude on vertical mountain of Ostrog, from which opens a wonderful view of valley Bjelopavlica. One of its parts is in the hollow of the mountain and is divided into two churches: Virgin Mary and St Christ.
In the church of Virgin Mary’s appearance lie the relics of St Basil of Ostrog. The body of the saint lies in a glass coffin without any signs of decay for the last 300 years!
The Lower monastery consists of the church of Holy Trinity, doss-house and an orthodox school, opened in the 18th century.
Liturgies and wedding ceremonies are held in this part of the monastery. There is a 5 km long asphalt road leading from the lower to the upper monastery. The walking path goes through the forest and is shorter — it will take you around 25 min to get from one monastery to the other.
The history of Ostrog monastery in Montenegro is one of the most miraculous ones and has many beliefs and legends attached to it.
The Miracles Of The Past
When St Basil of Ostrog died in 1671, he was buried at the monastery but this was not the end. In many ways, this was just the beginning.
This is when the miracles of Ostrog Monastery began, with people telling stories of St Basil appearing in their dreams. He would often be there to guide them, to help them, to heal them.
Over the years, the stories spread, and people started coming to visit Ostrog Monastery. Many of these visitors who were sick or injured were said to be healed by being in the presence of the relics of St Basil.
One of the most famous tales that’s told is of a former US senator called William Barr who had been injured in an attempted assassination. He said he had a recurring dream of an old man in a white church in a cliff but didn’t know where it was.
When he one day heard about Ostrog Monastery, he decided to do a pilgrimage. He spent many days, walking (in pain) up to the monastery and kneeling before St Basil’s relics. Each day he felt less pain until eventually it went away completely.
A Bomb That Never Exploded
During the II World War, in 1942, the German army bombed the Ostrog monastery in Montenegro with one grenade from a cannon which hit a stone wall above the Upper Monastery, shattered the door to the Church of the Holy Cross, but did not explode— the grenade crashed into two parts.
An expert examination later determined that the grenade was completely functional, but according to a common belief, Saint Basil did not allow it to explode and destroy the monastery. This grenade is still kept in the Upper Monastery.
A Cure For All
There are a lot of other stories such as the tale that there was a mother who left a cradle on top of the wall just above the monastery. The baby shifted in the cradle and moved it so that it fell off the wall from the height of about 60 meters. Even though the cradle shattered into pieces, the baby remained unharmed.
A lot of people have told stories about the spiritual changes that happened in their lives after visiting the monastery. Many have told their life stories how they stopped the non-spiritual lives they lived after they had a visitation by Saint Basil in their dreams. Yet many more talk about being healed of physical maladies and diseases upon their visits to Ostrog.
A grapevine rose from the rock next to where St. Basil died and is considered a miracle — it’s believed that its fruits are a cure for infertility. Many come from all around the world and camp on the holy grounds of the Ostrog Monastery. Two years ago my sister visited Ostrog with her husband after trying for a long time to conceive a baby.
She was seen by monks and has drank holy water from the Upper Monastery, months later she has successful conceived a baby boy, Vasilije — named after St.Basil. She believes that her visitation to Ostrog has helped them get pregnant — I believe her.
Ostrog is not a tourist destinations. It is a magical sacred place where people come to pray to St Basil and ask of his help. I have come there as a tourist, but I have decided to stay longer due to the fact that the place has an incredible energy and peace.
Nowadays, the Ostrog monastery is not only a famous sanctuary it is also a well-known monument of culture and history. It was declared a UNESCO valuable cultural heritage due to the breathtaking frescoes from the 17th century.
To me Ostrog Monastery is an incredible place which anyone should visit in spite of the fact whether they believe in God or not. There is a special atmosphere full of spirituality supported with stories of the monastery and St Basil’s miracles.
The Monastery is the silent witness of the past and the present, of the one faith and culture of the people who have lived here for centuries.
Thank you for reading.