LARGE NUMBER OF BELIEVERS ATTEND DIVINE LITURGY OVER FAREWELL TO THE HOLY GIRDLE; STEVANDIĆ ALSO PRESENT

BELGRADE, JUNE 6 /SRNA/ – A large number of believers gathered this morning at the Saint Sava Cathedral Church in the Vračar district of Belgrade, where a Holy Hierarchical Liturgy is being held prior to the ceremonial farewell to the Holy Girdle of the Most Holy Theotokos, which will be returned to the Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos.

The Divine Liturgy is being served by His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia, concelebrating with hierarchs, Archimandrite Ephraim and the priest-monks of Vatopedi Monastery, as well as local clergy.

In addition to numerous faithful, the liturgy is being attended by Republika Srpska National Assembly Speaker Nenad Stevandić, and Serbia’s Government Minister Nenad Popović.

From the Feast of the Ascension /Spasovdan/ until today, more than 800,000 people have venerated the Holy Girdle of the Most Holy Theotokos at Saint Sava Cathedral Church, with worshippers waiting for hours in long lines to approach the revered relic.

Before its departure for Vatopedi Monastery, one of the greatest Christian and Orthodox relics was placed on a pedestal inside Saint Sava Cathedral Church, allowing pilgrims to receive a blessing by passing beneath it while offering prayers for themselves and their loved ones.

This is a centuries-old tradition and practice observed in all Orthodox churches, including the Greek, Cypriot, Georgian, Russian, and Serbian Orthodox Churches.