Ascension of the Lord, the Patronal Feast Day of Belgrade – days of prayer, joy, and dance
In the Procession: Relics of Saint Justin of Ćelije and the Russian wonderworking Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of the Sign
Ascension Day Evenings
During the event “Ascension Day Evenings”, organized by the Office of the Archdiocese of Belgrade-Karlovci for Youth Cooperation, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch kyr Porfirije, and with full support from the Palilula Municipality and the administration of the Church of Saint Apostle and Evangelist Mark, concerts will be held from 10 to 12 June 2024, starting at 7pm at the Saint Mark's Church plateau. Renowned ethno groups, vocal performers, and numerous Belgrade cultural and artistic societies and folklore groups will perform. You can download the program for “Ascension Day Evenings” in Serbian HERE.
Visit of the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the wonderworking Icon of the Mother of God of the Sign
A special joy for the faithful will be the visit of the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York kyr Nicholas, who is bringing the wonderworking icon of the Mother of God of the Sign to Belgrade for the spiritual strengthening and veneration by Orthodox Serbians. Since its discovery in 1295 at the root of a tree in the city of Kursk, the icon has protected, healed, and guided our Russian Orthodox brothers for centuries. Since the Bolshevik revolution, it has been the greatest holy relic of the Russian diaspora, tireless Guide of Russian refugees in their emigrant wanderings. More about the visit of the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia HERE and about the Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of the Sign HERE.
Reception of the relics of Saint Justin of Ćelije and the Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of the Sign
On the eve of the capital's patronal feast day, 12 June 2024, at 5pm in the Church of the Ascension of the Lord, there will be a solemn reception of the relics of our Venerable Father Justin of Ćelije and the miraculous icon of the Mother of God of the Sign, followed by a festive vigil.
Holy Liturgies on the Feast of Ascension
The next day, 13 June 2024, on the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, in honor of the arrival of the high delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, His Holiness Serbian Patriarch kyr Porfirije will preside over the Holy Liturgy, with the concelebration of His Eminence Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York kyr Nicholas and other Hierarchs of ROCOR, at the Church of Saint Sava on Vračar, while the Holy Liturgy at the Church of the Ascension of the Lord will be served by Vicar Bishop of Toplica kyr Petar.
Solemn Patronal Feast Procession with the relics of Saint Justin of Ćelije and the wonderworking Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of the Sign
The solemn patronal feast procession with the reliquary containing the relics of our Venerable Father Justin of Ćelije and the wonderworking Icon of the Mother of God of the Sign, led by His Holiness Serbian Patriarch kyr Porfirije accompanied by local and foreign hierarchs, representatives of city and state authorities, hundreds of priests, members of all Belgrade church choirs, cultural and artistic societies, various branches of the Serbian Army and Police, will commence at 7pm from the Church of the Ascension of the Lord along Kneza Miloša and Kralja Milana streets, through Slavija Square where the Patriarch will read a passage from the Holy Gospel. This cross procession, for the consecration of the city's streets and squares and prayer for peace among people and nations, will conclude at the Church of Saint Sava where the spiritual leader of all Orthodox Serbians, His Holiness kyr Porfirije, will deliver a sermon and serve an Akathist to our Venerable Father Justin of Ćelije. The faithful will then be able to venerate the relics of Saint Justin and the wonderworking Icon of the Mother of God.
We invite the pious people of the Serbian capital to take part in the prayerful celebration of Belgrade's patronal feast day.
Media Invitation: Belgrade’s Patronal Feast Day – Ascension Day Procession – HERE.
Ascension Day Evenings
During the event “Ascension Day Evenings”, organized by the Office of the Archdiocese of Belgrade-Karlovci for Youth Cooperation, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch kyr Porfirije, and with full support from the Palilula Municipality and the administration of the Church of Saint Apostle and Evangelist Mark, concerts will be held from 10 to 12 June 2024, starting at 7pm at the Saint Mark's Church plateau. Renowned ethno groups, vocal performers, and numerous Belgrade cultural and artistic societies and folklore groups will perform. You can download the program for “Ascension Day Evenings” in Serbian HERE.
Visit of the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the wonderworking Icon of the Mother of God of the Sign
A special joy for the faithful will be the visit of the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York kyr Nicholas, who is bringing the wonderworking icon of the Mother of God of the Sign to Belgrade for the spiritual strengthening and veneration by Orthodox Serbians. Since its discovery in 1295 at the root of a tree in the city of Kursk, the icon has protected, healed, and guided our Russian Orthodox brothers for centuries. Since the Bolshevik revolution, it has been the greatest holy relic of the Russian diaspora, tireless Guide of Russian refugees in their emigrant wanderings. More about the visit of the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia HERE and about the Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of the Sign HERE.
Reception of the relics of Saint Justin of Ćelije and the Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of the Sign
On the eve of the capital's patronal feast day, 12 June 2024, at 5pm in the Church of the Ascension of the Lord, there will be a solemn reception of the relics of our Venerable Father Justin of Ćelije and the miraculous icon of the Mother of God of the Sign, followed by a festive vigil.
Holy Liturgies on the Feast of Ascension
The next day, 13 June 2024, on the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, in honor of the arrival of the high delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, His Holiness Serbian Patriarch kyr Porfirije will preside over the Holy Liturgy, with the concelebration of His Eminence Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York kyr Nicholas and other Hierarchs of ROCOR, at the Church of Saint Sava on Vračar, while the Holy Liturgy at the Church of the Ascension of the Lord will be served by Vicar Bishop of Toplica kyr Petar.
Solemn Patronal Feast Procession with the relics of Saint Justin of Ćelije and the wonderworking Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of the Sign
The solemn patronal feast procession with the reliquary containing the relics of our Venerable Father Justin of Ćelije and the wonderworking Icon of the Mother of God of the Sign, led by His Holiness Serbian Patriarch kyr Porfirije accompanied by local and foreign hierarchs, representatives of city and state authorities, hundreds of priests, members of all Belgrade church choirs, cultural and artistic societies, various branches of the Serbian Army and Police, will commence at 7pm from the Church of the Ascension of the Lord along Kneza Miloša and Kralja Milana streets, through Slavija Square where the Patriarch will read a passage from the Holy Gospel. This cross procession, for the consecration of the city's streets and squares and prayer for peace among people and nations, will conclude at the Church of Saint Sava where the spiritual leader of all Orthodox Serbians, His Holiness kyr Porfirije, will deliver a sermon and serve an Akathist to our Venerable Father Justin of Ćelije. The faithful will then be able to venerate the relics of Saint Justin and the wonderworking Icon of the Mother of God.
We invite the pious people of the Serbian capital to take part in the prayerful celebration of Belgrade's patronal feast day.
Media Invitation: Belgrade’s Patronal Feast Day – Ascension Day Procession – HERE.
