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.
Read also
OCU activist admits breaking into UOC church in Sloviansk
Oleksandr Onyshchenko said that the OCU held its first "service" at the Seraphim Church, which had previously been broken into by forcing the locks and doors.
Archimandrite Ioustinos, longtime keeper of Jacob's Well, dies in Jordan
Archimandrite Ioustinos (Mamallos), the keeper of Jacob's Well in Nablus, has died after a prolonged illness.
Pilgrim group from Kyiv Theological Seminary visits Mount Athos
KTS students are making a pilgrimage to the holy sites of Romania, Greece, Mount Athos and Italy.
UOC cathedral celebrates its patronal feast in Ternopil
The service in the cathedral of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia was led by Metropolitan Serhii of Ternopil, concelebrated by four hierarchs.
MinCulture marks centenary of Soviet-era reserve at Lavra's Refectory Church
Representatives of the Ministry of Culture presented awards to the Reserve's employees on the occasion of the anniversary at the Refectory Church of the Lavra.
Conference to mark 1700th anniversary of Christianity adoption held in Georgia
In Georgia, representatives of the Church and the state noted the defining role of Christianity in the country's cultural development.