Placing of Holy Cincture of the Most Holy Theotokos celebrated at Vatopedi

The Holy & Great Monastery of Vatopedi today joyously celebrates the Placing of the Holy Cincture, or Holy Sash, of the Most Holy Theotokos.
The Holy Relic of the Mother-of-God has been preserved for centuries at the venerable Mount Athos Monastery.

As part of reverent and solemn celebrations on the eve of the festal occasion, the Metropolitan of Servion and Kozani, His Eminence Pavlos, was welcomed to the Monastery on Monday by the Elder Archimandrite Ephraim, the Abbot of the Holy & Great Monastery of Vatopedi, who was accompanied by Elders of the Vatopedi brotherhood.

The Holy Cincture was conveyed from the Sanctuary for a con-celebratory vigil, officiated by Metropolitan Pavlos, in the presence of the Elder Ephraim, clerics, hieromonks, monks and deacons.

Immediately afterwards, the Holy Cincture was deferentially placed in the center of the catholicon, the main cathedral of the monastery, for veneration and for the blessing of elders and pilgrims, who traveled to the monastery for the feast day.
A con-celebratory Vespers commenced in the afternoon, followed by the all-night vigil.