400,000 Consecrated Ribbons Distributed During Belgrade Pilgrimage
Hundreds of thousands of consecrated ribbons were distributed in Belgrade as pilgrims venerated the Belt of the Theotokos at the Church of St. Sava.
BELGRADE, SERBIA — The Church of St. Sava in Belgrade has seen a major outpouring of pilgrims in recent days, with authorities reporting that more than 400,000 consecrated ribbons have been distributed to faithful visitors venerating the Belt of the Most Holy Theotokos during its stay in the cathedral.
From the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord through the Feast of Pentecost, long lines of worshippers have continued to arrive at the cathedral, seeking prayer and blessing before the sacred relic. The ribbons, which have been blessed in connection with the Belt of the Theotokos, are being handed out as part of the devotional practice surrounding the relic’s public veneration.
According to church tradition, the Belt is especially associated with prayers for healing, including relief from infertility and serious illness. The consecrated ribbons are typically worn around the waist by the sick and those seeking spiritual assistance, accompanied by prayer, repentance, and devotion to Christ and His Mother.
The relic will remain at the Church of St. Sava until Saturday, June 6, when it is scheduled to depart following a Divine Service. The farewell liturgy will be presided over by Serbian Patr. Porphyrios before the Belt is returned to the Holy Great Monastery of Vatopedi on Mt. Athos, concluding its period of veneration in Serbia.
Previously, the UOJ reported that the Holy Belt of the Theotokos drew pilgrims to Belgrade.
