Thousands of Orthodox faithful marched this Sunday night in Belgrade to warn of the possible celebration of Europride, despite the decision of the authorities to cancel this large concentration of the LGBTQ community scheduled for September.
Carrying religious icons, crosses and flags, the protesters marched through the city center praying and singing and gathered in front of Saint Sava’s Cathedral. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced on Saturday that he had decided, in consultation with the government, that this march, organized as part of a major annual pan-European event, would be “postponed or cancelled”.
He explained that it was not possible to “manage everything”, at a time when Serbia is facing a “difficult crisis” in Kosovo, a former Serbian province that declared independence in 2008, never recognized by Belgrade.
“Desecration of our country, our Church and our family”
But Marko Mihailovic, coordinator of the Europride scheduled in Belgrade from September 12-18, said: “The march will take place as planned on September 17.”
Speaking to the crowd on Sunday, Bishop Nikanor of the Serbian Orthodox Church praised the decision to reverse what he called “a desecration of our country, our Church and our family.”
The bishop said, according to images broadcast on the Glas Javnosti news site, that the faithful were ready to take to the streets again to “stand up to those who will try to destroy the values of Serbia.”
The first two Belgrade Pride Marches, in 2001 and 2010, were marred by violence. The parade has been organized regularly since 2014 but with a large law enforcement presence.
Source: BFM TV
