How to act before the relics of Saint Basil of Ostrog

Ostrog Monastery, hewn into the cliffs between Nikšić and Podgorica, is not a tourist spectacle alone — it is a place of pilgrimage where thousands come every day to stand before the relics of Saint Basil of Ostrog the Miracle-Worker and lay down their worries.

There are no magical formulas

Popular tales sometimes circulate that there is a fixed sequence of actions or a secret ritual that guarantees an answered wish. The spiritual tradition at Ostrog, however, is far simpler: respect and sincere prayer are what matter most when you reach the shrine.

When pilgrims arrive at the Upper Monastery and stand before the relics, common gestures are crossing oneself, bowing and kissing the shrine. Prayer need not be long or ornate — it is enough to say, inwardly or aloud, why you have come: for health, for children, for peace, for forgiveness, or for the strength to face hard moments.

Handing your burden to the saint does not mean all problems will vanish the instant you step away from the monastery. The idea of “leaving the burden” means entrusting to God in prayer what you cannot carry alone.

Pilgrims usually leave Ostrog not with a promise of trouble-free life, but with consolation, renewed hope and inner strength to meet life’s trials more bearably.

Ostrog is also a destination for gratitude: many people return when things are going well simply to say one large, sincere phrase to the shrine: "Thank you."

Photo: press material from the event