On May 21, Beograd will celebrate its city patron saint day, the Feast of the Ascension, with a traditional procession and the arrival of the Holy Belt of the Virgin Mary from the Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos. The procession will start from the Church of the Ascension and end at the Temple of Saint Sava, while the Holy Belt will be brought to the Church of the Ascension on May 20, for the first time in nearly 650 years.

Details of the Procession Route

This year, the procession will follow the same route as previous years:

  • From the Church of the Ascension, along Kneza Miloša Street
  • Along Kralja Milana Street
  • Around the Slavija Roundabout on the right side
  • Along the Freedom Boulevard to the Saint Sava Plateau near Karađorđev Park
  • Diagonally straight to the main western entrance of the Temple of Saint Sava

The procession may cause temporary disruptions in traffic along the specified streets, so drivers are advised to use alternative routes.

Religious Ceremony and Holy Relic

On the Feast of the Ascension, Patriarch Porphyrius will lead the liturgy at the Port of the Ascension Church, accompanied by other hierarchs, monks from Mount Athos, and local clergy. The Holy Belt will be presented in the Temple of Saint Sava for the faithful to venerate after the ceremony.

The arrival of this holy relic, combined with the traditional procession, marks an important religious event for the Orthodox community in Beograd and beyond.