It is difficult to find a more believing country than Montenegro. Ostrog is a local attraction, a place where pilgrims come from all over the world. Despite the fact that this is an Orthodox shrine, Muslims and Catholics can also be seen among believers. The monastery, although not the oldest in Montenegro, is associated 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 solitude and spend all their free time in prayers.
At one time Montenegro survived the Ottoman yoke. The jail in those days became a stronghold for the rebels who fought against the conquerors. The monastery became famous in the 17th century, when Vasily Ostrozhsky came to one of the churches located in a carved cave at an altitude of 900 m above sea level. At that time he was known far beyond the borders of the country. From childhood, the saint served God when he became an adult, built churches, helped the sick and poor, and prayer raised the spirit of his people. The monastery carved into the rock became a symbol of the national idea and the guardian of faith, and this is exactly what Montenegro needed in those days.
The jail is divided into two parts: Lower and Upper. It is separated by about 5 km, the pilgrims walk this road, usually using a short route. The lower monastery was built in the XIX century, it consists of the church of the Holy Trinity and cells. Remarkable is the remains of the 15-year-old martyr Stanko stored in it. His Basurman was 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, Montenegro knew many such unfortunate people.
The jail located at the top contains the largest number of attractions. It consists of the Holy Cross Exaltation and Vvedensky Church of the Virgin Mary. In the second temple, St. Basil spent 15 years, the structure is very small, only 3x3 m. Here the icon of Ostrog is painted on a rock, the ark with its relics, temple candlesticks and a prayer book are kept.
Ostrog Monastery in Montenegro has seen many wars and battles. Monks are happy to retell legends of miracles that happened in this holy place. In 1714, the Turkish commander Numan Pasha walked around the country, burning and carving everything in its path. Then the monks saved the relics by burying them on the banks of the Zeta River. In 1852, Omer Pasha was heading with his army to Ostrog, but the prince's brother quietly slipped past the conqueror with a hundred soldiers and took the shrine. They say that the relics made them invisible.
During the Second World War, too, Ostrog Monastery suffered many troubles. Montenegro (photos of those times show the state of the country) was bombed by the Nazis. In 1942, one of the shells hit the church, he knocked out the door, split into two, 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 crevices of the rocks, believers put notes with requests. The prison was on one level with the Jerusalem and New Athos shrines.