Basil of Ostrog

About Basil of Ostrog

Basil of Ostrog was a Serbian Orthodox bishop and miracle-worker. Born in Herzegovina, he became a monk and eventually Bishop of Zahum and Herzegovina. When the Ottomans conquered the region, Basil retired to a cave in the Ostrog mountains, living ascetically. His holiness attracted disciples, forming a monastery. Basil performed many miracles of healing. After his death, his relics remained incorrupt and continued working miracles. The Ostrog Monastery, built into a cliff face, became one of Orthodoxy's most important pilgrimage sites, attracting Christians and even Muslims seeking healing. Basil represents Orthodox monasticism's mystical and miracle-working tradition.