The road to Ostrog Monastery. Bogetici.

Our apartment was just fantastic last night.  Had a great sleep and was ready for the 40km ride to Bogetici. Leaving Podgorica at 7.30am, we made our way on a back road which met up with the main highway heading north.  The traffic wasn't that bad today, but the climb went on forever.

Once again we stopped for our morning tea stop at a roadside coffee house where I had my first cup of Montenegrin tea.  It was so nice and no sugar required. Cost about 50 Aussie cents.  Another bargain.

Back on the road with 15kms to go, the  road went up and up for over 450 metres.  The valley below was disappearing and we had to work hard to get to our turnoff.  Our goal was to make it to the most religious Orthodox Christian site in Montenegro.  We were heading for Ostrog Monastery.

We turned off the main highway and found a very small village with some men doing very little and a man I'll call Brian, because I can't remember his name.  I asked Brian for some help with accommodation in the town.  He immediately got on the phone and arranged a double room for 13 Euro each about 1km up the hill.  Peter also arranged for Brian to take us and our bikes up the mountain for 5 Euro each.  I wasn't in the mood to ride another 8kms up the mountain considering the heat of the day.  And it would be much better riding down than being in van.

After booking into our room and showering, Brian was waiting outside for the trip up to the monastery.  Fabulous trip and even better scenery to the top.

We had to queue in line to get into the monastery for about an hour.  The visit was worth the wait and the quite rewarding.  I'm not that much into religious sites but to visit a major religious site in the world is quite impressive.

 
Monastery Ostrog, is classed as a miracle built by nature and human interaction, carved almost in its entirety in a vertically positioned mountain cliff, is today the pearl of Montenegrin spirituality which is visited by more than a hundred thousand pilgrims from around the world and of travellers of all religions every year. Today Peter and I were 2 of them.

It is one of three most visited Christian destinations on the planet with its cave-like chapel and the Monastery complex that preserves the sanctity of Saint Basil the , Orthodox Christian Saint of Miracles. The only problem with the site is you can't take photos inside.  All our photos today were taken from outside.

All of Montenegrin spirituality, beliefs and cultural treasures found their home high up in the Ostrog cliffs. This breathtaking destination will fill your soul with high elevated feelings of devotion and reverence to God.

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 photo above was taken by Peter as we rode back down to the hotel for the evening.

 The above photo was taken in the courtyard of the Monastery.

 I took the above photo of the monastery about 2kms away.  You have to see it in the flesh to appreciate the magnitude of this religious site.

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.

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, 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.

After visiting the monastery it was back down the mountain for an easy afternoon.  The weather is beautiful and the view from the restaurant balcony is worth a million dollars.  Unfortunately the wifi is too slow to try and upload anymore photos.

Tomorrow will be heading closer to Serbia.  Where?  I have no idea.

Until tomorrow, safe riding.