- Address: Cetinje, Montenegro
- Founded: at the end of the 15th century
One of the most famous spiritual relics in Montenegro is the Cetinje (Cetinsky) monastery. He attracts thousands of pilgrims every year.
General information about the temple
It was founded by Ivan Chernoevich at the foot of the Lovcen mountain, eventually the Zeta diocese was moved here. During the period of various wars the monastery was destroyed several times, until in the 18th century Metropolitan Danila restored the temple to life, completely reconstructing it. The shrine was transferred to the Eagle's nest, and in the XIX century a tomb was built and a clock with a small belfry was erected on the bell tower.
Inside the temple there is a rich carved iconostasis, made by Greek masters of wood, with an icon and relics of St. Peter Cetinsky. Here there are works by famous artists of the XIX century. The interior itself is rather modest, to small halls is a masonry with very narrow passages.
What is the temple famous for?
In Cetinje Monastery in Montenegro, a huge number of relics of both local and world importance are kept. The complex includes the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in which are the remains of the last Montenegrin monarchs: Nikola II and his wife Alexandra. Here you can also see a collection of unique handwritten and printed books, vestments, banners and personal belongings of metropolitans, gifts from Russian rulers, antique utensils.
The most important shrines of the monastery are:
- The imperishable hand of Saint John the Baptist. It once belonged to the Romanov family, who brought it as a gift to the Montenegrin Metropolitanate;
- part of the life-giving Cross of the Lord;
- epitrahil of Saint Sava;
- crown of the famous monarch - Stefan Dechansky;
- the Order of the Knights of Malta, before the revolution it belonged to the Emperor of Russia Pavel I, and later traveled around the world until 1979.
If you visit the monastery yourself, be prepared for the fact that halls with shrines are open only for organized groups of 10-15 people. In summer, during the influx of tourists, there are often pandemoniums, and it is not always possible to consider relics.
Features of visiting the temple
In the monastery very strictly relate to the appearance of the parishioners: the knees and shoulders should be closed, the head covered in women, and the decollete is inadmissible. In the courtyard pilgrims are given free handkerchiefs and pareos and long trousers for men. Candles and icons can be bought in a shop, here you can write notes about health or rest. The candlesticks in the temple are in the water, which is quite unusual. Photographing inside the monastery is strictly prohibited.
Most monks understand and speak Russian, so travelers will not have much difficulty in learning the basic rules of behavior. Being on the territory of the temple, many visitors feel peace and tranquility.
Near the entrance to the Cetinsky Monastery is an equipped healing spring. Here you can not only quench your thirst, but also get water with you. Not far from the temple is a glass building, which houses a landscape map of Montenegro with the smallest details of the terrain.
How to get to the shrine?
Cetinje monastery is located in the city of Cetinje , to which from Budva and Kotor , scheduled buses run on schedule. Also here you can come with an organized excursion , for example, the tour "Shrines of Montenegro". By car here you will get on the roads M2.3 or No. 2, the distance is about 30 km.
Cetinje monastery, despite its difficult path, has always been and remains the stronghold and cradle of the Orthodox religion on the Balkan Peninsula.