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St. Vasilije of Ostrog (Sveti Vasilije Ostroski)
- (29 April)
 St.
Vasilije of Ostrog comes from Popovo Selo (Polje)(1610) in Herzegovina
from 'a simple but noble parents'. From the early days he was fulfilled
with love towards the church of God, and once he grew up he became a monk
of the monastery of 'Ascension of the mother of God' (Uspenje Bogorodice)
in Trebinje. As a monk he soon became famous for his successive
'exploits'. In due course he was ordained as a Metropolitan of 'Zahumlje
and Skenderija' against his wish (Lazarica, Journal of the Serbian
Orthodox Church of the Holy Prince Lazar in Birmingham, no. 139, November
1996 p. 30).
As an archpriest, he first lived in Tvrdos monastery from
where ' as a good shepherd he enforced his flock in the Christian orthodox
faith defending them from the 'Turkish cruelty and Latin cunning' (ibid.).
When Ottomans stepped up their campaign against Montenegrins, and destroyed
Tvrdos monastery in XVI century, Vasilije moved to Ostrog where,
accompanied by some 30 monks built a monastery by erecting the upper, cave
church of St Christ in the steep stone (1665) so that Turks could never
conquer it. It is said that 'Vasilije was shielding his flock with warm
and never-ending prayers '(ibid.).
The two caves, one above the other, shelter the churches over three
centuries old. They are adorned with icons painted in 1667.
 In
XVI century, Vasilije introduced himself to the God, who is said to have
preserved his relics in its entirety, and they are even preserved in its
entirety to this day (ibid.).
During his life and thereafter, St. Vasilije has been famous for
his healing and miraculous abilities. He was a person of exceptional virtues,
the protector of people, healer and miracle worker. His relics still attract
both, Muslims and Christians, who are finding cures for the most difficult
and unpredictable illnesses and pains. Ostrog monastery hosts every
year the "Great Gathering of People" (Veliki narodni zbor) for Trinity.
On this occasion both, Muslims and Christians, come to Ostrog monastery
to have their prayers granted and their illnesses cured.
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