Moscow, July 3, 2025
Photo: serbskoe-podvorie.ru
With the blessing of Bishop Stefan of Remezijana, rector of the Representation Church of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Moscow, an Akathist to our holy and God-bearing father Basil, Metropolitan of Ostrog and Wonderworker has been published in Church Slavonic for the Russian faithful.
The booklet includes the full Akathist hymn and a brief life of St. Basil of Ostrog, along with accounts of his miracles, according to the website of the Representation Church.
A copy of the icon of St. Basil of Ostrog the Wonderworker, containing a relic, is kept in the Church of the Holy Preeminent Apostles Peter and Paul at the Serbian Representation in Moscow.
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Basil was born in Popovo Selo in Herzegovina, to simple and devout parents. From his youth he was filled with love for the Church of God, and when he grew up he went to the monastery of the Dormition of the Mother of God at Trebinje, and became a monk. He quickly became known for his serious and rare ascetic life, for he took upon himself very difficult ascetic practices, each harder than the last. He was later chosen and consecrated as Bishop of Zahum and Skenderia, against his will.
As a bishop, he first lived in the monastery at Tvrdo’s, whence, as a good pastor, he confirmed his flock in the Orthodox faith, preserving it from the cruelty of the Turks and the guile of the Latins. But when he became severely pressured by his enemies, and when Tvrdos was destroyed by the Turks, Basil moved to Ostrog, where he lived in strict asceticism, protecting his flock by his unceasing and loving prayers. He went peacefully to the Lord in the 16th century, his relics remaining whole, healing, incorrupt, and wonderworking to the present day.
The miracles at St Basil’s grave are without number. Both Christians and Moslems hasten to his relics and find healing of the gravest sicknesses and sufferings. A great national gathering takes place there every year at Pentecost (from The Prologue from Ochrid, by Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic).
St. Basil of Ostrog is venerated by the Orthodox faithful worldwide, and is especially loved in Russia.
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