“THIS IS A JOURNEY ON THE WINGS OF THE SOUL”: Youth from Republika Srpska set off on foot toward Ostrog, dedicating the pilgrimage to a friend killed in a traffic accident!

Guided by faith and respect for the great Saint Basil of Ostrog, a group of 27 residents of the Rudo municipality in BiH has set off on a pilgrimage to the Ostrog Monastery in Montenegro.

By the moment they bow before the relics of Saint Basil of Ostrog the Miracle Worker, the pilgrims will have walked for five days. Before that, they will join groups of pilgrims from other municipalities in Republika Srpska and Serbia and go to Ostrog together. The pilgrims did not hide their feelings before the journey of hope, trial, and spirituality.

– This is a journey taken on the wings of the soul, where every step originates from the heart. From there come the strength, faith, hope, and love, and it is definitely a journey from which we do not return the same, Dragana Kovač told RINA.

This is the third year in a row that the Orthodox Youth “Makarije Sokolović” from Rudo has organized this pilgrimage in the form of walking. However, this year, alongside happiness, sadness is also present.

– Our feelings are mixed. We rejoice in our journey toward the Ostrog Monastery and bowing to the relics of Saint Basil, but on the other hand, we are sad because our brother Srđan, who carried this cross last year, is not with us. Unfortunately, he was killed in a traffic accident near Novi Sad, said Predrag Gardović.

The pilgrimage is planned to last five days, with the total journey being 220 kilometers long.

– On the first day, we cover 50 kilometers and arrive in Pljevlja, at the Monastery of the Holy Trinity with Father Zosim. On the second day, we are at Đurđevića Tara, on the third we go to Šavnik, on the fourth we descend to Vidrovan where we gather with all the pilgrims, and on the fifth day, we are already heading toward Ostrog, arriving on the eve of the feast of Saint Basil of Ostrog, the pilgrims add.

Half of the pilgrims participating in this march consist of high school and university students. This means that the Serbian youth are truly under the wings of Orthodoxy and are ready for all trials and sacrifices to preserve it.