MORE THAN 300 PILGRIMS SET OFF ON PILGRIMAGE TO OSTROG

BILEĆA, MAY 9 /SRNA/ - More than 300 pilgrims set off this morning from Bileća towards the Ostrog Monastery to venerate the relics of Saint Basil of Ostrog, on the occasion of the feast day dedicated to this great saint.

The large convoy of pilgrims departed for the 15th time from the Cathedral of Saint Sava following a joint prayer and blessing by the clergy. One of the organizers of the pilgrimage, Miljan Kovačević, said that participants in the pilgrimage include people from Bileća and Herzegovina, as well as from Kruševac, Kragujevac, Belgrade, Novi Sad, Zvornik, and Germany. He pointed out that this is the largest group of pilgrims in the region travelling to the Ostrog Monastery, noting that each year more and more people take part in the pilgrimage to the great holy site. Kovačević told reporters that the pilgrims will travel around 90 kilometers to Ostrog, adding that on the first day of the journey, they will cover 48 kilometers before spending the night in Trubjela, while the following day they will continue their journey and are expected to arrive at the monastery in the afternoon. Milan Cerovina from Bileća told SRNA that this is the second time he has participated, because he believes that faith is the most essential nourishment, motivation, and wealth in life. Slobodan Kuljić from Kruševac said that this is the third time he has gone on the pilgrimage to the Ostrog Monastery with pilgrims from Bileća, noting that he originates from Bileća and that it is an honor for him to take part in it all. Duško Stanisavljev from Novi Bečej pointed out that this is the first time he has embarked on this holy journey from Bileća, since his mother comes from that town, and that he is pleased to participate in the pilgrimage. The organizer of the pilgrimage from Bileća is the Saint Sava Youth Community, with the support of numerous businesspeople and donors. The pilgrims will be accompanied from Bileća by police, medical personnel, and around 15 vehicles providing assistance to participants and transporting the necessary equipment. On May 12, the Serbian Orthodox Church celebrates the feast day dedicated to Saint Basil of Ostrog, whose relics, regarded as great holy relics, are kept at the Ostrog Monastery in Montenegro.