The visit of the Holy Belt of the Most Holy Theotokos, one of the most revered relics in the Orthodox Christian world, has concluded in Serbia after attracting more than 1.1 million pilgrims, according to the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Following a solemn farewell ceremony at Saint Sava Cathedral in Belgrade on June 6, the relic was returned to the Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos, Greece, where it is permanently housed.

The Holy Belt arrived in Serbia in May with the blessing of the brotherhood of Vatopedi Monastery. Initially scheduled to remain in Belgrade until May 29, the relic's stay was extended twice due to the overwhelming number of faithful seeking to venerate it.

The centerpiece of the visit was the traditional Ascension Day procession, known as the Spasovdan Litany, held on May 21 through the streets of the Serbian capital. Led by Serbian Patriarch Porfirije, the event marked the first time the Holy Belt was carried through central Belgrade. Church sources described the procession as the largest prayer gathering in the city's modern history.

The relic was first displayed at the Ascension Church in Belgrade before being transferred to Saint Sava Cathedral in the Vračar district. Thousands of worshippers queued daily to pay their respects. According to the Serbian Orthodox Church, more than 916,000 pilgrims visited Saint Sava Cathedral alone between May 20 and June 6.

The farewell ceremony began with a prayer service and an Akathist hymn dedicated to the Virgin Mary, presided over by Patriarch Porfirije. Among those attending were Archimandrite Ephraim, abbot of Vatopedi Monastery, clergy members, government representatives, and thousands of believers.

The relic was carried out of the cathedral to the sound of church bells and Serbia's national anthem, "Bože Pravde" ("God of Justice"). An honor guard composed of members of the Serbian Armed Forces Guard, gendarmerie officers, military academy cadets, and students of theological schools accompanied the ceremony. The Holy Belt was then transported to Nikola Tesla Airport and flown back to Mount Athos on a special flight.

Speaking during the farewell event, Archimandrite Ephraim described Serbia as a "country of true Orthodoxy" and praised the unprecedented scale of the pilgrimage.

"More than one million people came to venerate the Honorable Belt of the Most Holy Theotokos. This is a testimony to the living faith of the people," he said.

Patriarch Porfirije expressed gratitude to the Vatopedi brotherhood for bringing the relic to Serbia, emphasizing that the spiritual experience and joy of the visit would remain in the hearts of believers for years to come.

According to Orthodox Christian tradition, the Holy Belt was woven by the Virgin Mary herself and preserved after her Dormition. Kept at Vatopedi Monastery for centuries, it is regarded as the only surviving personal possession of the Mother of God and rarely leaves the Holy Mountain, making its visit to Serbia a highly significant event for Orthodox faithful.