Pilgrims at Ostrog

Would you sleep under the stars at a monastery given the chance?

Ostrog is a Serbian orthodox monastery and a site of pilgrimage. It is perched high above the valley, and deftly tucked in under the base of huge limestone cliffs. Its a spectacular location.

The monastery provides blankets and mattresses and its free to sleep out.
We pick our spot and set up for the night. Alain chatting to our neighbours of varying Serbian origins. After an early evening outdoor service, pilgrims start to settle for the night. We lie looking up at the night-lit monastery, the cliffs and the stars above, a gentle breeze on our faces, conscious of all those many pilgrims that have paused here over the centuries.
The night is not long, with many up at 5am. The 6am outdoor morning service is graced with the crescent moon above and the sun about to rise. We quietly leave in the early morning as yet more pilgrims arrive.Read more