A relic believed to be a fragment of the Holy Belt of the Virgin Mary has been brought to the Varna and Veliki Preslav Diocese of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church for the first time.

The relic was solemnly received on September 19 at the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God in Varna. Orthodox faithful will have the opportunity to venerate it until September 21, according to the website of the Varna Metropolis.

The fragments were brought to Varna from the Panagia Kato Xenia Convent near Volos, Greece. A delegation from the Metropolis of Demetrias and Almyros accompanied the relic. It was welcomed by Metropolitan Ioan of Varna and Veliki Preslav and Metropolitan Grigoriy of Vratsa.

The visit coincides with the 140th anniversary of the first Divine Liturgy celebrated at Varna’s cathedral in 1886. According to the Varna Metropolis, this is the first time the relic has been brought to the Varna Diocese and only the third time it has been displayed within the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Fragments of the Holy Belt were previously brought to the cities of Burgas and Silistra.

The Holy Belt of the Virgin Mary is among the most revered relics in the Orthodox Christian tradition. According to church tradition, after the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, the belt was given to the Apostle Thomas, who had arrived after her death.

The relic was initially kept in Jerusalem before being transferred to Constantinople in the fifth century. Orthodox tradition associates the Holy Belt with numerous accounts of miracles and healings. One such account dates to the 10th century and concerns Empress Zoe, wife of Emperor Leo VI. According to tradition, she suffered from a serious illness and recovered after the Holy Belt was placed upon her.

Today, the principal portion of the relic is kept at the Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos. Smaller fragments are preserved at other Orthodox monasteries. The two fragments brought to Varna were given to the Panagia Kato Xenia Convent by Vatopedi in 1522. They are kept in a silver reliquary.

For Orthodox Christians, the Holy Belt is not only a historic relic but also an object of religious veneration. Believers pray before it for health, assistance in difficult circumstances and spiritual support.

In his sermon, Metropolitan Ioan urged the faithful to turn to the Virgin Mary in prayer for physical and spiritual health and for help in overcoming the challenges of life.