Pat. Porfirije: people's faithfulness more important than number of pilgrims to Belt

A night procession to St. Sava's Church. Photo: Serbian Orthodox Church

On June 2, 2026, the Serbian Orthodox Church officially responded to numerous media inquiries about the number of believers who have venerated the Belt of the Most Holy Theotokos at St. Sava's Church in Vračar. As the UOJ in Serbia reports, according to official data, between May 20 and 8:00 PM on June 2, 576,793 people venerated the holy relic.

Commenting on this event, Serbian Patriarch Porfirije emphasized that the number of pilgrims itself is not the main goal. According to the Primate, what is much more important is that people demonstrate through their actions their faithfulness to the Covenant with Saint Sava, which is inseparably connected with the Kosovo Covenant of Saint Prince Lazar. "This covenant represents the fulfillment of the New Testament in the life of Orthodox Serbs," the Patriarch noted.

The flow of believers to the Church of Saint Sava did not cease even at night. Pilgrims from Serbia and abroad lined up in multi-hour queues to pray before the Belt, brought from the Athonite monastery of Vatopedi. The holy relic will remain in Belgrade until Saturday, June 6. After the festive Divine Liturgy, which will be led by Patriarch Porfirije, the Belt of the Most Holy Theotokos will be solemnly escorted back to the Holy Mount.

As the UOJ reported, the Patriarch and President of Serbia received the Belt of the Most Holy Theotokos.

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