BLESSING OF THE MOTHER OF GOD BROUGHT BY THE HOLY GIRDLE DOES NOT DEPART; IT REMAINS AS EVERLASTING GIFT

BELGRADE, JUNE 6 /SRNA/ – The blessing brought by the Holy Girdle of the Most Holy Theotokos upon its arrival among the Serb people does not depart, because everything received through faith, prayer, and repentance remains as an everlasting gift, His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije said in an address to the faithful gathered at Saint Sava Cathedral Church in the Vračar district of Belgrade.

His Holiness emphasized that the holy relic, which has brought the Serb people together over the past several days, is today returning to Mount Athos and the Vatopedi Monastery, but that its blessing remains with the Serb people. He noted that streams of people had been making their way to the church in recent days, including the elderly and the young, the sick and the healthy, children and parents. "There are many who wished to come and venerate the holy relic but were unable to do so because of life's circumstances. Let them know that those of you who came did so on their behalf as well; the Most Holy Theotokos has not forgotten them either," the patriarch said. He stressed that the protection of the Mother of God is not limited by space or time, nor does her love depend on whether someone was able to stand before the Holy Girdle. "Wherever there is living faith, there is also the blessing of the Most Holy Theotokos," the patriarch said. He added that the Mother of God had reminded the Serb people that they are one family in Christ. "We pray to the Holy Theotokos to protect our people and the Serbian Orthodox Church and to grant peace to the entire world. May her blessing remain with all of us, those who came and those who were unable to come despite their wish to do so," the patriarch said. Patriarch noted that since the Feast of the Ascension, hundreds of thousands of people had made pilgrimages in silence and unity, patiently waiting to venerate the relic and receive the blessing of the Mother of God. "Many waited for 10, 12, and even 14 hours to kiss the relic. No one found it difficult, because where there is love and faith in God, time ceases to be measured by a clock," Patriarch Porfirije emphasized. He also stressed that many had wondered where such a vast crowd had come from and what force had moved so many people to wait patiently for hours in order to venerate the relic. The Patriarch of Serbia explained that the answer lies in faith, which is broader than reason, deeper than emotion, and more exalted than anything that can be seen or touched. "Faith does not encompass only one part of our being, but our whole person, our mind, heart, soul, and body. Faith is synonymous with, or the other side of, love," the Patriarch of Serbia said. He thanked everyone who had contributed to ensuring that everything proceeded peacefully. Patriarch Porfirije is serving the Divine Liturgy at Saint Sava Cathedral Church before the Holy Girdle of the Most Holy Theotokos in the presence of a large number of worshippers. At 14:00, a prayer service will be held, after which one of Christian greatest relics will be ceremonially sent off to the royal laura of the Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos.