(Belgrade) Thousands of Orthodox faithful marched in Belgrade on Sunday evening to warn against the possible holding of Europride, despite the decision of the authorities to cancel this large gathering of LGBTQ + communities scheduled for September.
Posted at 8:14 p.m.
Carrying icons, crosses and religious flags, protesters marched through the city center praying and chanting and gathered outside St. Sava’s Cathedral, an AFP photographer reported.
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 canceled”.
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 which proclaimed its independence in 2008, never recognized by Belgrade.
But Marko Mihailovic, a coordinator of Europride scheduled in Belgrade from September 12 to 18, said: “The march will take place as planned on September 17”.
PHOTO ZORANA JEVTIC, REUTERS
Participants in the Sunday demonstration
Speaking to the crowd on Sunday, Bishop Nikanor of the Serbian Orthodox Church hailed 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 “put themselves in front of those who will intend 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 presence of law enforcement.