BELT OF THE THEOTOKOS ARRIVES IN BELGRADE, WELCOMED BY PATRIARCH PORFIRIJE AND VUČIĆ

BELGRADE, MAY 20 /SRNA/ - The miraculous Belt of the Most Holy Theotokos, one of the greatest relics in the Orthodox Christian world, was ceremonially welcomed today at Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla Airport with state and church honors, including a ceremonial guard of the Serbian Armed Forces.

The arrival of the Belt of the Theotokos, brought from the Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos for the feast of Spasovdan /Ascension Day/, the patron saint's day /Slava/ of Belgrade, was attended by His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Porfirije, bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić. First to exit the aircraft were younger monks from Vatopedi Monastery, followed by Abbot Ephraim, who brought the Belt of the Theotokos, and the Minister without Portfolio in the Government of Serbia, Nenad Popović. After the plane landed and the Belt of the Theotokos was welcomed, Patriarch Porfirije, together with clergy, served a prayer service at the airport. The miraculous Belt from Mount Athos will also be solemnly received at the Church of the Ascension, where Patriarch Porfirije will later serve a festive evening service. The Belt of the Theotokos will be carried tomorrow at the head of the Spasovdan procession, and will then be displayed at the Church of Saint Sava in Belgrade, where the faithful will be able to venerate the relic until May 29.