The Holy Girdle of the Virgin Mary, accompanied by the venerable Archimandrite Jephrem, abbot of the Vatopedi Monastery, has arrived at Nikola Tesla Airport and has been brought to the Resurrection Church in Belgrade.
Thousands of Believers Greet the Holy Girdle
Outside the Resurrection Church, the Girdle was received by Patriarch Porphyrios, Bishop Dositej, the church elder, the clergy of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and numerous believers who had been waiting in long lines to pay homage.
The reception was solemn, with the Serbian national anthem being sung and a hymn in honor of the Virgin Mary. The Holy Girdle will be on display at the Resurrection Church, where believers will have the opportunity to pay their respects, before being moved to the Church of Saint Sava on Spasovdan (May 21).
Patriarch Addresses the Gathering
Patriarch Porphyrios addressed the gathering, after which the evening service will commence.
Believers Receive Blessed Ribbons
Believers at the Resurrection Church venerate the Holy Girdle and receive blessed ribbons, along with instructions in six languages. Earlier today, Patriarch Porphyrios and President Aleksandar Vučić greeted the Girdle at Nikola Tesla Airport. It will lead the Spasovdan procession through central Belgrade streets tomorrow.
The arrival of the Holy Girdle in Belgrade is a momentous event for Serbian Orthodox believers. But with such a large crowd, can the city handle the influx without issues? This tradition is a beautiful, spiritual journey, but practical concerns can't be ignored.