By Ignaty Ponyatovsky
The shortlist comprises ten writers, as compiled by the Chamber of Trustees of the Patriarchal Literary Award. The decision recently took place at St. Daniel’s Monastery in Moscow, at a meeting chaired by the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill. The session was also attended by the Chairman of the Publishing Council of the Belarusian Orthodox Church, Bishop of Borisov, Veniamin.
During his opening address to the chamber of trustees, Patriarch Kirill noted, “We often hear criticism of our award being outdated but we bestow it not for any particular single work but for combined contributions to the development of literature and the establishment of Christian ideals in society. The largest and most famous Russian awards, such as the Big Book Prize and the Russian Booker Prize, are awarded for particular editions. They award an individual work rather than the author’s general contribution. However, we believe that some writers’ works have more significance than others. We also believe that past works can retain their relevance in our modern day world, having bearing on our spiritual, intellectual and aesthetic life. We shouldn’t forget such works and, where they have failed to receive true recognition in the past from contemporaries, we aim to mark their significance today.” The Chancellor of the Publishing Council of the Moscow Patriarchate, the Secretary of the Chamber of Trustees and the Metropolitan of Kaluga and Borovsk, Kliment, noted that two or three people may share the award this year. He also added that there were many candidates in the long list, including those from abroad. Speaking of those on the shortlist, the Metropolitan underlined that all deserve to be included. “These writers preserve the traditions of great Russian writers, using wonderful literary language. Moreover, they write about eternal themes, which still have relevance today, reflecting our modern world and our own experience. These works explore ideas dear to us. We truly need such books,” he stressed.
Ivan Charota has written over 450 scientific and literary-critical publications and monographs, having translated around a thousand theological and artistic works of Slavonic nations into Russian and Belarusian. The ceremony of nominating and awarding the Patriarchal Literary Award of St. Cyril and St. Methodius will take place on May 29th, in the Hall of Church Councils at Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow.
