The Holy Mandylion of the Virgin Mary, along with parts of the True Cross, the most revered relics in the Christian world, will arrive in Belgrade on May 20 ahead of the city's Ascension Day celebration. The relics will be brought to Belgrade by the igumen of the Vatopedi Monastery, Jefrem, with a brotherhood. The reception of the relics will take place before the Church of the Ascension at 5 PM, where Serbian Patriarch Porfirije will perform the festive evening service. The Mandylion has a significant historical and spiritual connection to Serbia and Knez Lazar, who brought it to Hilandar Monastery in the 14th century.

RTS has produced a documentary film about the Holy Mandylion, which was broadcast on "Oko Magazin." The editor and author of the program "The Mandylion of the Virgin Mary from Mount Athos" is Dušan Ubović.

Why This Is the Most Important Relic of Mount Athos

- It is essential to explain why the Holy Mandylion of the Virgin Mary is the most important relic of Mount Athos. There are so many relics, church treasures, and beautiful icons in the twenty monasteries of Mount Athos. The Mandylion is said to be two thousand years old, and according to tradition, it was made by the Virgin Mary herself. It is a tangible piece of the Virgin Mary's life and her son's life that has survived for centuries.

The tradition states that the Virgin Mary wove the mandylion herself from camel hair. The mandylion is a garment that Jewish women would weave for their brides on the day of their wedding. Since the Virgin Mary did not have a husband, she kept the mandylion with her throughout her life. She had it when she received the good news of the birth of Jesus, and she had it with her when Jesus was crucified, and when she passed away. Three days after her death, she gave it to Saint Thomas.

The igumen of the monastery explains how the mandylion has survived for two thousand years. Queen Zoe, who was seriously ill, was visited by the Virgin Mary, who promised to help her with the mandylion. The mandylion had never been displayed before, but it helped Zoe recover. She then wrapped it in gold thread, and it now comes to Serbia. The igumen says that scientists are proving that it has survived due to the gold thread; otherwise, camel hair would not have lasted two thousand years.

The mandylion was in Russia fifteen years ago and has been in Greece. It is now coming to Serbia.