Ostrog monastery, Orthodox monastery in Mount Ostrog, Montenegro.
Ostrog is an Orthodox monastery in Montenegro, set into natural caves of a limestone cliff about 900 meters (roughly 3000 feet) above sea level near Danilovgrad. Its two churches are built directly into the rock face and appear as part of the mountain itself.
Metropolitan Vasilije Jovanović founded this monastery in the 17th century when he withdrew to the mountains. It appears on a geographical map of Montenegro as early as 1640.
The two churches house 17th-century frescoes painted directly on the cave walls, depicting Orthodox religious scenes and sacred figures.
A winding road from Podgorica leads up to the monastery, or visitors can take a three-hour walk from the lower monastery. The path is steep and requires sturdy shoes.
The frescoes from the 17th century were painted directly onto the bare cave walls without plaster or preparation. Over 100,000 pilgrims visit the monastery each year to venerate the relics of Saint Basil.
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