Thousands line up to see the Belt of the Virgin Mary

Some 20,000 believers came to venerate the Belt of the Virgin Mary, which is on display at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

People have to wait in line for about ten hours to get into the cathedral.

The Cathedral is open twenty-four hours a day until 9 p.m. November 27. Earlier, Moscow authorities recommended that people pay their respects to the Belt starting on November 22, after celebrations marking the 65th birthday of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia are over.

The authorities recommend arriving at the Frunzenskaya subway station. Eyewitnesses say the line starts at the Andreevsky Bridge.

Earlier, the line started from the Krymsky Bridge, and pilgrims were recommended to use Park Kultury subway station.

The Belt was brought to Moscow on Saturday. Thousands of people gathered to wait near the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

People started to line up at night.

On Sunday, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin talked to believers who were lining up to venerate the Belt, and he checked how city services were working.

Pilgrims from neighboring regions came to Moscow to venerate the Belt. Even though buses with pilgrims from the regions have left the parking lot near the Cathedral, the number of believers who want to enter the Cathedral has not decreased as new buses with pilgrims arrived.

Many believers pray while standing in line.

There were serious traffic problems near the Cathedral starting on Monday.

The Belt of the Virgin Mary is the holy treasure of the Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos in Greece. The belt is believed to cure infertility, help pregnant women and cure diseases. The Belt arrived in Russia on November 20. Moscow is the last city where the relic will be displayed on its current tour.