21.05.2026.
Minister Gašić attends Ascension Day procession
Minister of Defence Bratislav Gašić attended this evening the Ascension Day procession held on Belgrade’s patronal feast day – the Ascension of the Lord (Spasovdan). The procession was led by His Holiness Porfirije, the Serbian Patriarch.
As per tradition, the procession included members of the Serbian Armed Forces Guard, Military Academy cadets, Military Grammar School students, as well as members of the collegiums of the Minister of Defence and the Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff.This year’s celebration of the Feast of the Ascension was enhanced by carrying the Belt of the Most Holy Mother of God through the streets of Belgrade. The relic was brought to Belgrade the day before the city feast day by the Abbot of the Mount Athos Monastery of Vatopedi, Archimandrite Ephraim, accompanied by the brothers of the monastery.
Following the Divine Liturgy held in the Ascension of the Lord Church, numerous citizens of Belgrade went on a prayer walk through the streets of downtown Belgrade, starting from the intersection of Kneza Miloša and Kralja Milana streets, across Slavija Square, down Liberation Boulevard, all the way to the Church of Saint Sava in Vračar.Along with the Holy Belt, the Holy Gospel, the Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God holding her Holy Belt, painted especially for this occasion, the Icon of the Ascension, and the Holy Cross were carried through the city.
Patriarch Pofirije delivered a sermon for numerous citizens gathered in the Church of Saint Sava. At the end of the liturgy and the worship service, strips of cloth consecrated over the Holy Belt were distributed to the faithful.The Holy Belt of the Most Holy Mother of God will be displayed in the church in Vračar until May 29.
The Ascension Day was established as the capital’s feast day in 1403, when Serbian ruler Despot Stefan Lazarević declared Belgrade the capital of Serbia and chose the Ascension Day as the capital’s feast day.
PHOTOGALLERY
VIDEOGALLERY21.05.2026
mp4 (283,17 MB)The Ascension Day Procession
