Lines outside of Saint Sava Temple show no sign of ending: Everyone is asking the same question PHOTO/VIDEO

Belgrade has this May become the center of one of the largest gatherings of believers in recent times due to the arrival of the Belt of the Most Holy Theotokos, a holy relic kept at the Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos.As announced by the Serbian Orthodox Church, the stay of one of Christianity&rsquo;s greatest relics at the Church of Saint Sava has been extended until June 5 due to the huge number of worshippers arriving in continuous lines to venerate and kiss the relic.Alongside the relic itself, believers&rsquo; attention has also been drawn to the small blessed ribbons distributed to the faithful after venerating the Belt of the Most Holy Theotokos. These ribbons hold a special place in the tradition, as they originate from the monastic heritage of Vatopedi, are blessed above the Belt of the Most Holy Theotokos in the monastery&rsquo;s prayer area, and are then given to believers as a sign of blessing and remembrance of their encounter with the holy relic. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ХРАМ - званична телевизија Српске Православне Цркве (@hram.tv)300,000 blessed ribbons have been preparedAccording to the event organizers, around 300,000 blessed ribbons were reportedly prepared in Belgrade in order to accommodate the expected massive turnout of worshippers.However, in practice it has proven difficult to predict the number of believers in advance, as the lines in front of the Church of Saint Sava continue to reform and grow longer day after day.For that reason, the stay of the Belt of the Most Holy Theotokos in Belgrade has been extended until June 5, while long lines of people continue to form outside the Church of Saint Sava, patiently waiting to enter.Believers are arriving from different parts of the country and the wider region, and the wait often lasts for hours &mdash; even throughout the night &mdash; in silence and prayer.In such an atmosphere, one question is being heard more and more frequently among the faithful standing in line: whether there will be enough blessed ribbons for everyone who comes to venerate the relic. Although the number of prepared ribbons is large, their distribution depends on the constantly changing flow of visitors from day to day. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ХРАМ - званична телевизија Српске Православне Цркве (@hram.tv)The ribbon can be divided into several piecesWhen asked whether the ribbon can be divided, priests of the Church of Saint Sava explain that each believer receives one ribbon, which can be cut into at least ten pieces so that the blessing may be shared with family members and loved ones, especially with those believed to be in need of help or spiritual support. Representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church emphasize that the essence of venerating the Belt of the Most Holy Theotokos is a spiritual act &mdash; prayer, reverence, and a personal encounter with the holy relic &mdash; while the ribbon itself is a blessing that believers can share with their loved ones who were unable to come for the veneration.

Lines outside of Saint Sava Temple show no sign of ending: Everyone is asking the same question PHOTO/VIDEO

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