Rivers of believers, measured in the tens of thousands, poured into the Ostrog monastery again this year, on the feast day of St. Basil the Wonderworker of Ostrog.

The Central Holy Liturgy of the Bishops on the plateau in front of the Upper Monastery was served this morning by the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, Mr. Joannikius and the Most Reverend Bishops Gregory, of Düsseldorf and all Germany; Teodosije, Raska-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija; Irenaeus, East American; Maxim, Western American; Cyril, Buenos Aires and South-Central American; Methodius, from Budimlja-Nikšić and Jovan, retired.

The archimandrite abbots: Sergije from Ostro, Varnava from Treskavic, Pavle from Orahovac, as well as numerous clergy and monastics, served together.

The pupils of the Prizren Theological Seminary sang.

After reading the Gospel, Bishop Grigorije spoke and, among other things, said that Ostrog resembles those holy places from which all others spring.

"This cave, dear brothers and sisters, resembles that Bethlehem cave; this holy tomb, in which the relics of Saint Basil rest, resembles the tomb that Joseph of Arimathea donated to bury the crucified Lord Jesus Christ. This cave, this place, remind me of what we most often forget: they remind me of modesty, of humility, but also of the fact that light shone from the grave, that God destroyed death with death and that we will celebrate that event until the end of the age, when that to shine light in our hearts as well, which, unfortunately, are too often like a cold and empty cave", said the Bishop.

He invited the gathered believers to bring a handful of that light into the world, because the light is not there to be put under judgment, but to be put in a candlestick to shine on all who are in darkness, because the Light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not overcome it .

"If it happens, by the grace of God, that the light that shines in the darkness of this cave, that shines in the darkness of this mountain, that shines in the darkness of the whole world, visits us today, then our illnesses, all our infirmities and our weaknesses will be healed. Therefore, with the fear of God, faith and love, approach and open your hearts to the light of Christ, to the light of Christ's disciple, follower, to the Christ-bearing, God-bearing father of our Saint Basil, and light will move into your hearts, and with it will come the joy of life, the joy of healing and the joy of salvation," said Bishop Grigorije.

After the Holy Communion, the celebration cake is blessed.

At the end, Metropolitan Ioannikije said in his archpastoral sermon that today, on the feast of St. Basil, we remember the words of St. Paul the Apostle that those who follow the path of Christ, and who are ready to ascend with Him to Golgotha and to be crucified with Christ, will participate in the glory the resurrection of Christ and in His victory over death.

"Saint Vasilije Ostroski followed Christ on that narrow and narrow path throughout his earthly life, carrying the cross of the Lord, but at the same time carrying the burden of his people. But God gave him, because of his love for God and for the Church and his people, such a grace that he was able not only to preach the Gospel and be a witness of Christ here on earth, but also to perform miracles: to comfort the sad, heal the sick and to show the power of the holy Orthodox faith," said the Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral.

"And in the same way as our people once gathered in the Mileševa monastery, during the life of our Holy Father Sava, to receive comfort and grace, and God's grace and strength to carry their cross and follow God's path, just as our people then gathered to receive healing of mental and physical infirmities from Saint Sava, so in our time, but also a long time ago, our nation, but also many other nations gather around the life of Saint Basil to receive from God, and through the prayers of Saint Basil, healing, medicine, virtue and forces," he said.

Metropolitan Ioannikije thanked everyone, first of all the brother bishops who came from various parts of the world to the Ostro shrine for the feast of the Ostro Miracle Worker.

He especially greeted His Excellency the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Podgorica, Mr. Vladislava Maslenikova.

"I especially want to greet the children and youth who come on foot." This year, from Banja Luka, and from Herzegovina and Romania, there is almost no place from where they did not come on foot to pay homage to Saint Vasilij Ostroška and to offer their great effort out of love for him. So from Sombor, from Zlatibor, from Montenegro of course, from many places - Podgorica, Nikšić... I can't list them all, don't blame me. I only know how much your love and devotion is for St. Vasilij Ostroška. We saw that this year as well," said Bishop Joanikije.

The Bishop also thanked Abbot Sergius and the brothers of Ostro and, as he said, the many people who want to help the monastery.

"Cheers to the holiday!" May Saint Vasilije Ostroski hear and receive your prayers and bring them before the throne of God, so that you may go home with a blessing. And may God, through the prayers of Saint Basil of Ostrog, pour abundant God's mercy and grace on all of you, on your homes and your descendants now and in the future," said Metropolitan Ioannikije.

Radosav Rajo Vojinović

Photo: Ostrog Monastery

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH9M2X38rCk