Balkan Sanctuaries- Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina. Pilgrimage from St. Andrew Church. Boston

USA

Meeting at the  airport about 3 hours before the scheduled departure to Serbia. Then ticket and passport check-in and flight to Europe.

BELGRADE- SERBIA

Arrival in the early afternoon to Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. Transfer to the hotel for a short rest, after that we will go to the most recognizable tourist points of the Serbian agglomeration. We will see the Kalemegdan Fortress, the Church of St. Petki with a miraculous spring, Ružica Church, located near the mouth of the Sava to the Danube, the medieval tower of the Belgrade Fortress: Bastion – Kula Nebojša for centuries was the main defensive structure and later served as a dungeon. It has been a museum since 2010.

We will visit the Temple of St. Sawy, we will see the Parliament building, we will walk along Kneza Milośa. This street is one of the main communication arteries of the city. Free time in historic Skadarlija, where we will eat local dinner. Transfer to the hotel, overnight.

DRVENGRAD

MONTENEGRO

Breakfast, check out. Drive along the picturesque Zlatibor range to Montenegro, where the Monastery of Ostrog is located. It is a place of worship for three religions (Orthodox, Catholics and Muslims). Montenegro’s flagship attraction attracts crowds of pilgrims from all over the world, but most of all from the Balkans. They take their prayers for healing to St. Basil.

After the prayer, transfer to the hotel by the sea, accommodation, dinner, overnight.

KOTOR BAY

After breakfast, trip by boat in the Bay of Kotor – or if you prefer Boce Kotorska.

“Boka” – that’s the name used by local people, means mouth. From a bird’s eye view, the bay is just like that. After about an hour, we will reach Herceg Novi – the largest resort in the Bay of Kotor. Free time for a short tour and then we move on. Passing Mamula Island, we will reach Żanica Bay – where we can rest for a while. For those willing, if it will be possible- enter the Blue Grotto.

In the afternoon, we will sail to the Gospe Island from Skripel (Island of Our Lady on the Rock) – we will visit an unusual museum on the water there. The last point of the day will be Kotor. This town, together with the entire landscape of the Bay of Kotor resembling the fjords of the north, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979.

We will walk around the old town surrounded by defensive walls: we will see the Sea Gate, the clock tower, the Romanesque Cathedral of St. Tryphon, Church of St. Luke and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Return to the hotel, dinner, overnight.

CETINJE

After breakfast, check out, drive to Cetinje – the ancient capital of Montenegro, where the tomb of the Petrović dynasty is located. We will visit – the court of King Nikola, the Museum with the famous icon from Filermos, Njegosev Biljard, Manastyr with the treasury where the hand of John the Baptist and the relics of St. Piotr Cetinje.

On the way, we will see one of the biggest tourist attractions of Montenegro – the Island of St. Stefan. Once upon a time, a tiny island was ruled by the poor, who made their being or not dependent on the sea. It all depended on whether the catch was successful, whether the fishermen would return with full nets, or even whether they would come back at all. Today it is an island for the richest.

We will get to know a few legends and curiosities related to this place, and then we will continue our journey to Croatia. Hotel accommodation. Dinner and overnight.

DUBROVNIK

After breakfast, we will set off to explore Dubrovnik, a city that attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world each year. Described as the pearl of the Adriatic, it adorns the southern part of the Croatian coast. This gem of Dalmatia is characterized by a rich cultural heritage. During our trip we will have the opportunity to admire the most beautiful part of the Croatian coast with numerous bays, mountains merging with the crystal clear, emerald water of the Adriatic Sea and small resorts scattered along the entire coastline.

The guide will show us the sights of Dubrovnik and tell us about the ancient and modern history of the city. Free time in the city. Transfer to Medjugorje. Dinner at the hotel. Accommodation.

MEDJUGORJE

After breakfast, sightseeing in Medjugorje.

Međjugorje is a tiny parish in western Herzegovina inhabited by Bosnian Croats – Catholics. Once, only the inhabitants of the surrounding towns and villages knew about it. n 1981, this parish became known all over the world. June 24, the feast of St. Jana, in the town of Bijakovići, near Međjugorje itself, on the Podbrdo hill, the Mother of God – Queen of Peace appears to six children.

During the meeting, he communicates his requests to them and recommends piety, penance, and prayer. This parish soon becomes the most famous and most visited Marian Sanctuary in southern Europe, as well as a place of prayer, reflection, peace, and quiet for millions of pilgrims from all over the world. From the beginning of the apparitions that took place during the deepest communism, the parish of Medjugorje expanded significantly. Currently, it has about 1.5 thousand inhabitants -Catholics.

During our stay in the city, we will have the opportunity to go to the Apparition Hill, where the first apparitions took place, and see the new parish church of St. Jakub, which is the heart of the parish, a meeting point and prayer point for thousands of pilgrims. In your free time, it will be possible to buy souvenirs and devotional items. Dinner at the hotel and overnight.

MOSTAR

After breakfast, drive to Mostar, Holy Mass, and a city tour with a local guide. Mostar is a town situated between the mountains in the wide valley of the emerald Neretva. The town “made of stone and on stone,” as the locals say, has a population of around 100,000. inhabitants and is the largest city in the southwestern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina.The symbol of the city is a white stone bridge over the emerald Neretva, colorful Turkish houses with characteristic floors and an oriental smell above the stalls in narrow streets and delicious coffee are the inherent symbols of the city, which attracts crowds of multilingual tourists every year.

During the walk, we will have the opportunity to see the most interesting monuments and hear about the long history of this Bosnian city. After visiting the city, we will go to Blagaj, a medieval town nominated for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Dinner and overnight.

SARAJEVO

After breakfast and mass we will go to Sarajevo – the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina and one of the most interesting cities in the country. With a local guide, we will visit the most interesting monuments and learn about its interesting and turbulent history. The soul of every capital is the old city, and when it comes to Sarajevo, this “soul” is extremely rich and colorful. Narrow streets with restaurants dotted with the smell of local delicacies, stalls with colorful souvenirs mix with numerous monuments and give the atmosphere of the region.

After sightseeing, free time to drink traditional Turkish coffee and taste local delicacies. Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight.

SARAJEVO- USA

Breakfast. Breakfast box in case of a very early departure. Check out from the hotel, transfer to the airport. Ticket and baggage check-in and then flight to the USA. Arrival in the country in the morning or before noon.

THE PROGRAM IS A FRAMEWORK. PROGRAM POINTS MAY CHANGE. MASS EVERY DAY (IF POSSIBLE IN THE CHOSEN SANCTUARY).