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We Visited the Monastery Where St. Basil of Ostrog Was Ordained: Secrets of a Holy Site That Was Destroyed in Wars but Always Rose from the Ashes (VIDEO)
A solemn liturgy, thousands of believers, and a powerful sermon before the relics of St. Basil of Ostrog marked the holiday, with a message about faith that lifts a person even when they think they have no strength left.
TL;DR
- Tvrdoš Monastery, located near Trebinje, is one of the oldest Orthodox sanctuaries in the Balkans.
- It is significant as the place where St. Basil of Ostrog began his monastic life.
- The monastery's foundations date back to a 4th-century early Christian church, indicating over fifteen centuries of continuous Christian life.
- During the Middle Ages, it was an important spiritual center for Hum and later all of Herzegovina.
- In the 15th and 16th centuries, it served as the seat of Herzegovinian metropolitans and a center for preserving Orthodox tradition.
- The monastery has been damaged in wars but was restored, notably in the 20th century.
- Revival of viticulture and olive cultivation, led by Metropolitan Amfilohije and Bishop Atanasije, has become a key aspect of the monastery's modern identity.
- Tvrdoš wines and olive oil are now recognized regionally.
- The monastery integrates its ancient Christian past with contemporary life, serving as a spiritual and cultural center.