Over a hundred thousand people gathered around the reliquary of Saint Bishop Nikolaj of Serbia and filled the central streets of the Serbian capital during the Savior’s Day procession, which was led today by Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia.
Due to the pain and sorrow caused by the suffering and loss of lives of the young people in the municipalities of Vračar and Mladenovac, this year’s Patron Feast Day of Belgrade – the Ascension of the Lord, and the traditional Savior’s Day Procession were marked by the words of Saint Bishop Nikolaj of Žiča and Ohrid: “Through prayer, let us beseech for blessed peace among people!”
At the head of the procession, carrying the large Cross of the Lord in their hands, were the Patriarch’s scholarship beneficiaries: Sara Dimitrijević from Niš – a second-year student at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, and Milan Bogosavljević from Užice – a graduate of the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade. In an orderly arrangement, there were hundreds of priests, hieromonks, deacons, readers, church choirs, members of the Serbian Army and Police, hundreds of religious education students with their teachers, and over a hundred thousand citizens of Belgrade who reached the intersection of King Milan and King Milutin Streets.
There, Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia served a memorial service for the repose of the souls of innocent children: Ana, Sofija, Andrijana, Katarina, Ema, Mara, Andrija, and Angelina, and the servants of God Dragan, Nemanja, Lazar, Marko, Aleksandar, Nikola, Dalibor, Milan, and Kristina, as well as all women victims of domestic violence.
The procession, led by the reliquary containing the relics of Saint Nikolaj of Serbia, passed through Slavija Square and Liberation Boulevard until it reached the Memorial Church of Saint Sava. In front of the Church, Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia served a supplication service and addressed the faithful people.
Source: Serbian Orthodox Church