Beograd's Spasovdanska litija, an annual religious procession to celebrate the city's patron saint, began after 7 PM on Wednesday from the Ascension Church to the Saint Sava Temple on Vračar. The procession is led by Serbian Patriarch Porfirije, who carries the Holy Belt of the Theotokos, one of the most significant Orthodox relics. The Holy Belt, which arrived in Beograd from the Vatoped Monastery, has been preserved there for the past six centuries.

Molitva na Slaviji

The litija will proceed through key Beograd landmarks, including King Milan Street, Slavija Square, and Freedom Boulevard, before stopping at Slavija Square for a prayer. Following the litija, Patriarch Porfirije will enter the Saint Sava Temple with the Holy Belt. An akatist, a hymn to the Theotokos and her miraculous belt, will be sung, followed by a speech by the Patriarch.

At the Saint Sava Temple, 300,000 pieces of cloth consecrated on the Holy Belt in the Vatoped Monastery will be distributed to the faithful.

Pojas Presvete Bogorodice u Hramu Svetog Save

The faithful will be able to venerate and kiss the Holy Belt in the Saint Sava Temple until May 29. There are numerous testimonies of healings and blessings received by those who approached the relic with faith and prayer.

The celebration of Beograd's patron saint began in the morning with a holy liturgy at the Ascension Church, led by Patriarch Porfirije. The city's patron saint celebration continued with the cutting of a symbolic cake at the Old Palace, attended by the mayor of Beograd, Aleksandar Šapić, Prime Minister Prof. Dr. Dušan Matic, Patriarch Porfirije, and other dignitaries.

Beograd's Spasovdanska litija has been a traditional event since 1862. The city celebrates Spasovdan to commemorate the day in 1403 when Despot Stefan Lazarević declared Beograd the capital of Serbia. According to an agreement between Hungarian King Sigismund and Serbian Despot Stefan in late 1403 or early 1404, Beograd became the capital of the Serbian Despotate, and Spasovdan was established as the city's patron saint celebration.