Belt of the Blessed Virgin Mary was escorted out Temple of Saint Sava on the way to Holy Mountain. The send-off, with the highest church and state honors, followed on Saturday (June 6) after the prayer service.
Serbian Patriarch Porfirije served a prayer service in the Church of Saint Sava, together with the abbot of the Vatoped monastery, Archimandrite Jefrem, after which the Holy Belt of the Most Holy Theotokos was escorted to the airport, from where it will be returned to Vatoped on Mount Athos.
The prayer began with the lowering of the shrine from the pedestal it had been on since last night.
Minister of Internal Affairs Ivica Dačić, Minister of Labour, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs Milica Đurđević Stamenkovski and Minister without portfolio Nenad Popović are attending the prayer service.
The ceremonial send-off was organized with the highest church and state honors with the participation of the Guard of the Serbian Army, the orchestra of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, folklore societies, choirs, seminaries and others.
Preparations for the send-off were made with the blessing of Patriarch Porfirio, with the consent of Archimandrite Jefrem, Abbot of Vatoped Monastery.
Photo: FoNet/SPCPrayer on the occasion of sending off the Girdle of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Patriarch Porphyrius, with the concelebration of the archbishop, Archimandrite Ephrem with the monks of the Vatoped monastery and the local clergy, served the liturgy from nine o'clock in the Church of Saint Sava.
The Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) previously invited the faithful to "take a prayerful part in this historic spiritual celebration."
From May 20, when he was brought to Serbia, 916.825 believers worshiped him, it was confirmed to RTS in the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Due to the great interest of believers, the stay of this relic in Belgrade was extended twice. The faithful waited for several hours to kiss him.
The belt of the Blessed Virgin Mary arrived in Belgrade on May 20, on the occasion of the celebration of Spasovdan, when it was at the head of the Spasovdanska procession.
Students: "The right to dignity does not depend on what someone believes in"
Students in lockdown spoke out about the belt of the Blessed Virgin Mary and said that they are a movement that brings together people of different beliefs and that "the right to dignity does not depend on what someone believes in".
They pointed out that among the students and citizens who have been standing side by side for almost two years are Orthodox, Catholics, Muslims, atheists, agnostics and those who keep their beliefs to themselves.
Source: TV Hram, Vreme, RTS
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