Belgrade's feast day, Ascension, celebrated with procession

Belgrade's feast day, Ascension, celebrated with procession

The participants were carrying the Jerusalem Cross and the Flag of the City of Belgrade from 1938 at the head of the procession. They started from Admirala Geprata Street and returned to the Vaznesenjska Church after stopping in Terazije Square and at the Cathedral Church of St. Michael the Archangel.

Earlier in the day, Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Irinej served liturgy, attended by Borko Milosavljevic, assistant Belgrade mayor, who was this year the host of the feast day, and Deputy Mayor Andreja Mladenovic. After Serbian Despot Stefan Lazarevic established Belgrade as the nation's capital in 1403, the city started celebrating Ascension Day as its feast in honor of its renewal and progress.

The manner of celebration that is still practiced today was established in 1862. The tradition was abandoned in 1946, and renewed in 1992. The Serbian Orthodox Church on Thursday celebrated the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - a holiday marked 40 days after Easter.