Devotion Under the Sun

Thousands of faithful gathered in Belgrade this week, forming endless queues around the St Sava Temple on Vračar hill. The pilgrimage was organized to allow believers to venerate the Holy Belt of the Virgin Mary, a revered relic brought from the Vatoped Monastery on Mount Athos. The atmosphere inside the temple and in the surrounding streets was defined by patience, piety, and a shared sense of spiritual purpose.

Among the crowd were people of all ages, shielding themselves from the intense summer heat with umbrellas, hats, and scarves. There was no pushing or shouting; instead, the air was filled with the soft chanting of the church choir. Emergency medical teams remained on standby throughout the day, assisting visitors who felt exhausted by the long wait and high temperatures. Water tankers were also stationed near the temple to provide relief to the pilgrims.

Extended Stay for the Relic

The Holy Belt arrived in Belgrade to be carried during the Spasovdan liturgy, marking the city's patron saint day. This was the first time the relic had been present in Serbia since it was gifted to the Vatoped Monastery by Prince Lazar centuries ago. The Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) announced that Patriarch Porfirije visited the queues multiple times during the night, offering blessings and words of encouragement to the waiting faithful.

Due to the overwhelming number of visitors, the relic's stay was extended beyond the original schedule. Archimandrite Jefrem, the igumen of Vatoped, agreed to keep the belt in the temple until June 1 at the Patriarch's request. He cited the "great love of the Serbian people," demonstrated by tens of thousands of believers who had been waiting in line for days. Each visitor received a blessed cloth strip tied to the belt during its time at Vatoped, with 300,000 such items prepared for distribution.

Pilgrims from Across the Region

The event drew attendees not only from Belgrade and Vojvodina but also from North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and other parts of the Balkans. One pensioner from Belgrade told reporters she arrived at 6:30 AM and did not leave the temple until 3:30 PM. Despite having a pacemaker, she said she was prepared for the physical effort, driven by her long-standing faith. She noted that many in the line were seeking help for personal struggles, hoping for the Virgin Mary's intercession.

The extended presence of the Holy Belt has become a significant moment of unity and spiritual reflection for the region. The careful organization by the church and local authorities ensured that the massive influx of pilgrims was managed safely, allowing thousands to partake in the veneration without incident.