Glimpses of OSTROG (I) – Welcome in!
FIRST SUMMER DAY sets the Sun low behind Ostrog monastery. Viewed from the back entrance, East gate. Most of the pelgrims and visitors come here from all over the world to honor and worship the relics of saint Basil of Ostrog in upper monastery. But the evening prayer in the lower monastery takes one to another level too. The mystic Vespers here are just about to start. Most of the hymns sung are to the saints of 4th century. —For me this was most certainly thé longest day and the longest prayer in one: I stayed awake all of what was the shortest night of the year, arriving in the dark, taking part in all night vigil and the liturgy until 2 a.m. and then in unforgettable refectory meeting with hundred+ attendees, of which half were monks, nuns and priests; the other half dedicated churchgoers. At 4 a.m. it was difficult to farewell but it had to end. Thereafter I slept like a log from sunrise at 5, to 11 a.m. —The new day saw me in a completely different climate zone. It’s a rare sensation to feel >30°C after seven months of chill and cold high up North. Glory to God for everything!
Glimpses of OSTROG (I) – Welcome in!
FIRST SUMMER DAY sets the Sun low behind Ostrog monastery. Viewed from the back entrance, East gate. Most of the pelgrims and visitors come here from all over the world to honor and worship the relics of saint Basil of Ostrog in upper monastery. But the evening prayer in the lower monastery takes one to another level too. The mystic Vespers here are just about to start. Most of the hymns sung are to the saints of 4th century. —For me this was most certainly thé longest day and the longest prayer in one: I stayed awake all of what was the shortest night of the year, arriving in the dark, taking part in all night vigil and the liturgy until 2 a.m. and then in unforgettable refectory meeting with hundred+ attendees, of which half were monks, nuns and priests; the other half dedicated churchgoers. At 4 a.m. it was difficult to farewell but it had to end. Thereafter I slept like a log from sunrise at 5, to 11 a.m. —The new day saw me in a completely different climate zone. It’s a rare sensation to feel >30°C after seven months of chill and cold high up North. Glory to God for everything!