Trip for Orthodox Easter 15.04.2012.

Dapchevic field

There is something in these lands full of mountain peaks, that makes you wonder - what is out there? What could we find out next?

With a pocket full of hills, Montenegro is an destination for real adventurers. There is a joke about our country in which is described, how small our country is. but is that really true? If you start your trip from port of Bar, head up on old road towards Ulcinj, and than turn left on Sukobin border, and again left to end on Virpazar, it takes you aprox. 200 kms?! That isn't so small regarding that the road is sorrounding the massive of Rumija and Lisinj all together.

Dapchevici field and Pashina St.

So, my mom have told me an amazing story of her discovery, when she last time went to Ostros, a place on that old road for Ulcinj. They went to Zoganje, and found a plate that tells about a monastery called Ostrog?!

We thought that she is trying to give us a beat to go there and explore but, she wasn't alone. As a fact there is only one world wide known monastery in Montenegro which is considered for big sacrificial place for all religions we know that come there. That monastery is on road between Podgorica and Niksic, and it is visited almost every day of a year, especially for Saint's birthday.

Road towards Zoganje

So we headed to find that on

e again with our mom but as you could possibly assume, we took one wrong turn and we couldn't go back. :) But the best things were just to come. We ended one of our wrong turns in one little village which is called St.George (as there live a great popularity of catholic Christians) and there was a lovely monumental building in honor to this saint.

It is a sculpture of this saint, which is killing his known enemy - the dragon, made as sort of relief and surrounded by stone walls in a little house which has big front doors, from which you can see the sculpture, and it has also side windows, which are letting the rays of sun get onto the picture and light it on magical way. As we were there around 4 o'clock while sun was still high, we couldn't catch that magic play of light so we took our best shots and put them here.

I hope you'll be amazed, as we were, when we saw this lovely sight of human devotion to Christian beliefs. This monument was built with so much love, and you can see that it is well cleaned and preserved from weather and years to come, as it was built 7 years ago (back in 2004.)

Monument of St. George

So it wasn't so bad after all, we found out about new things, monuments, and I wasn't lazy after all. I took and expedition over internet and wound a site of ours that speaks about that monastery, http://www.destination-montenegro.com/cg/ulcinj-crkvecg.htm the fifth row is talking about famous church we wanted to find, but I believe it will be our next and bigger motivation for next road towards unknown religion heritage.

Here are more shots about lovely spring in our country. I hope you'll enjoy and wait for more stories about our exploration travels :)

Ada Bojana - Delta of river Bojana that enters in Adriatic sea

The entrance on Ada Bojana

On the road trough Gornji Štoj

Greenhouses in Možura

Traveling towards new exploration :)

Thank you for reading!

THE CROSS OF VLADIMIR

Saint Kosara (Vladimir's wife)

St.Vladimir

Preserved in the Androvic family as a most precious relic. Every year, on the day of St. Troica, the cross is carried to the top of the Rumija mountain to the place where, according to legend, there used to be a church. There is a custom among the population for the participants of the procession to take a rock with them, because according to the legend, the church shall rebuild itself once there are enough rocks.

Church of Prečista Krajnska

St.Vladimir's Cross

After the church of St. Maria collapsed, the cross was found in it’s ruins. Today the cross belongs to the Androvic family. The cross is 45cm long, 38vm wide, 2,5cm thick, made of wood and gold plated. The place where the cross is kept is known only by the two oldest members of the family. The cross is related to the life of the old king of Duklja, Vladimir (980-1016), whose seat was in Krajina (Ostros). During the war with the Macedonian Czar Samuil, Teodora (Kosara) fell in love with the handsome king of Duklja, who seemed “ sweeter than honey “ to her, and told her father that she would throw herself in the lake if she was not allowed to marry Vladimir. Shortly after they were married in a castle not far from the Precista Krajinska Monastery on the Skadar lake.

After Czar Samuil died, he was followed by Vladislav, who soon invited king Vladimir to come and visit him in Prespa, and as a sign that he would be safe, sent him a golden cross,.Knowing that Vladislav was an unstable person, king Vladimir asked for a wooden cross, because “ our Saviour was crucified on one”. Vladislav sent three monks with a wooden cross, but as soon as Vladimir arrived in Prespa, he was killed at the church door. At the time of his death, he had a wooden cross in his hands, and was buried with it in Prespa. Vladimir’s wife Kosara had his body moved to the Precista Krajinska Monastery then entered a monastic order. After she died, according to her wish, she was buried beside the king. King Vladimir was proclaimed as saint.

In honor to this precious story and in order to preserve health of persons that come out on Trojica day on this mountain 1500m high, Serbian orthodox church have built a metal-plated building in form of church in which persons could lit their candles in spite to cruel winds that blow there. That is truly one of a kind holly building ever made like that on territory of Montenegro and it has it's own charm ;) maybe that is the only metal object that isn't cold like metal objects are ;)

Transfering new metal plated church on Rumija Mountain above town Bar

The church which is visited on Trojica's Day, where Vladimir's cross is brought

every year

A trip to unknown national herritage - Bar, Montenegro

Some nice shots about our beautiful city heritage are here.. few Sundays ago, we've gone to visit an old church that have been made for only one night.. It is situated on mountain Lisinj, below village called Donja Poda, of about 450m above sea surface.

In last centuries of Turk domination over these lands, last villages where people had to take Islam in order to survive, were made in these lands 12km south-east and East from center of the city Bar - the port of Montenegro.. In one of them, local people have made deal with the representative of Turk's military to spare them if they make the church in one night..

What have begun as a joke of a soldier, became very real for those people that have been protecting their lives.. most of Muslim people in these parts of city knows their prior Name and even a saint that was held as a protector of their houses.. some of them even today light a candle on those saint days..
I am flattered with respect they have to other religion and not putting those tasks ahead - or making problem of it.. That is why this city is so unique in the world - here religions live together - as port of Bar, have been half held by Turks that made their part of people into Islam and other half by Austrians that again have made that part of people Christian-Catholics and there have been left still people that have remained Christian-Orthodox till the day I am speaking of - so why should they fight ever? Those are the same people - brothers, sisters, fathers and children of same family trees that have been held here for centuries..


So let's go back to this heritage that have been left by brave citizens in that village. They have left a strong impression that man could do something from nothing just if he has will to do it! And which will is stronger from that one to save your precious and loved ones lives?

People that live around that church, have been latest Islamic made and they know for a presence of church that looks upon the city. It's doors are watching the sunrise on Adriatic sea every night and currently, that monumental building has no roof.. no doors and it is almost forgotten.. Local people have been asked for opinion and they have said that they'll help reconstruct the roof if archbishop of Orthodox church here allows to be reconstructed. We've got a new pope in county that is responsible for that region and hope to make it happen at last :)

After hard rains, strong earthquakes, that building have survived it all! It's floor is authentic - and walls have been slightly reconstructed on a manner that have been used in old times.. windows on north and south side are minimal - like those that were used for watching on enemy from walls that have been protected old cities.. Also there have been found a rock that have a picture of sword engraved into it, and we've found it finally last time, as the place where church is situated, is full of rocks and small oaks.. so here are some pictures to see :)

Story and photo by Marija Tadic

Ok people

It was really time to shake up this blog around again :) I've had a not very good 2009. it is now time to change it into a flourishing year of 2010.

In that name, I wish to all Orthodox Christians a happy Epiphany night and a Merry Merry Xmas :)

Let's make a retrospective of my youtube works about Montenegro - above all Bar, Virpazar, and Old road for Ulcinj travel - stories trough pictures :)

Enjoy!!

Travel - Skadar lake, Beach Ckla
Travel - Port of Bar, Montenegro - May 2008
Travel - Gluhi Do, Crmnica, Montenegro - Maj 2008.
Easter Friday - Virpazar, Skadar Lake, MNE - 25.04.2008.

And in addition - my photography video :)

Posting on Balkan Photo Contest

I've got an new inspiration in my life and I am going to show what I can do :)

Thank to all of you that love my work!!!

The Fair in Belgrade

I finally got in Belgrade after a long time..First time I went there, was in year of 1997 before NATO aggression and after that just have passed by in year of 2000.. It is a city not near to any of Montenegrin cities
not just by judging the traffic that is enormously fearing, but by its greatness, captivity, people, and stores.. opportunities..

The fair was really near my hotel but going by car - otherwise I would be lost :) all those highways and everything messed me up that much that after the third day of going the same circle I wasn't sure that I could dare to drive there.. madness.. :)


The fair brought me contacts of different kinds and people are opened even after all that have happened between our two people (I mean two people by the calling - Montenegrin and Serbian) - after all we are one soul..


There is enough one sparkle to get out for us to feel united.. So, I was able after the fair day to go and visit Knez Mihajlova Street, the big bookstore called Mamut that I adore, Terranova stores where I've got my cap and gloves - green market Zelenjak, etc.

I passed by two crashed buildings that are standing near Government building that are standing still there in the middle of the night remembering people of that sad time that have happened not a long time ago..

By the one word - I could never live there.. and once I was able to see the idea of making the Belgrade one of the next Vice City episodes because of the crowd and vividness of traffic hidden corridors of streets and down low pedestrian passages..
A big experience, opens mind of an small-city-citizen that life is so short..



And than the beautiful shots of snow that I rarely see, big crossroads and metro pole, are not more and not less important than the pictures of nature..

A day by the beach

I love long walks by the coast.. there are not too many people, ducks are not frightened or feed by too many people.. the air is chilly and likely fresh.. I can take pictures about everything that my heart desires.. so there are people that I meet rarely but I adore every minute with them more than if we could spend too many together..

And so, me and my little friend, have met our dear guest from America that works in Organization of Mercy within the crew in Montenegro. As we haven't seen each other for a long time because of my twisting between jobs, it took a while to catch up with past events :) Hello Majooo, I've promissed to put you on my blog so it'll be it!