Orthodox Shrines – Podmaine, Cetinje, Ostrog
This tour will take us to places that are holy not only for Montenegrins, but also for the rest of the Orthodox world.
We`ll learn the history of ancient monasteries and also the monasteries and temples that were built in the 20th and even the 21st century. We`ll visit the central shrines of Montenegro – the Cetinje monastery and the Ostrog Monastery – revered even among people of different other religions. And in the end of the journey, depending on the starting city, we`ll visit either the famous Savina Monastery or the ruins of the ancient monastery of St. Michael the Archangel. In this tour, we`ll see the tragic and heroic history of Orthodoxy in the Balkan region.
In the beginning we`ll visit the monastery of Podmayne in Budva, which was the residence of the Montenegrin lords during the time when coast was ruled by the Venetian Empire, was the fortress under the rule of Austro-Hungary, preserved in the form of ruins in the socialist time and restored only in the late 20th century. Further we`ll drive up to old Montenegro, to its heart – the Monastery of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which was founded by Ivan Crnojevic in 1484, at the foundation of the city. The monastery was a stronghold of faith for all Balkan countries during the most difficult period for the region, and despite the fact that it was ravaged several times by the Turks, it again and again rose from the ruins, being an example of unbending strength. Now in this shrine stored such valuable relics as the right hand of John the Baptist, the relics of St. Peter of Cetinje, the icon of the Filerm Mother of God and the pieces of the Holy Cross.
Next we`ll proceed to the capital of the country Podgorica, where we`ll visit the Cathedral Church of the Resurrection of the Lord, consecrated in 2013, and on the belfry of this temple sing bells cast in Russia – in the city of Voronezh.
Also near Podgorica we visit the cave monastery of Daibabe, which was founded here in the beginning of the 20th century by St. Simeon of Daibaba, in the caves of the monastery on the walls there are frescoes of the hand of this saint. Then we`ll continue our way towards Monastery Ostrog, the mountain monastery, where Saint Basil Ostrozhsky was struggling, after his transition here from the Monastery of Tvrdosh.
Here are the relics of this saint. As people believe, he helps everyone without exception, so he is revered by Catholics and Muslims also. From these impregnable harsh heights you will look back at the history of the struggle of the Montenegrins with the invaders, which lasted more than 400 years.
On the way back, if we have time, we`ll see one small but very important for Montenegro Church of Savior on Grahovets, it was build in 2 days, in honor of the victory over the Turks in the battle of 1858.
Finally, depending on the starting point and the time that will remain, we`ll visit the Savina monastery on the shore of the bay in Herceg Novi, or the ruins of monastery of St. Michael the Archangel, where the throne of the founder of the Serbian Orthodox Church was located.
We wish you pleasant vacation and great new impressions! MonteTrip.me Team!
RELAX & ENJOY. YOUR TOUR IS OUR JOB.
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