The literary award “Izvor,” traditionally presented by the Representative Office of Republika Srpska in Serbia and the editorial board of the magazine Žrnov, was awarded today in Belgrade. Ljiljana Pavlović Ćirić from Stalać received the award for the most beautiful poem about homeland, “Ljubostinjski vez,” while Aleksandar M. Arsenijević from Belgrade won for the most beautiful story, “Kesten, kukuruz i krasota.”
At the award ceremony held at the Representative Office, Pavlović Ćirić read her winning poem, rich in motifs from Serb epic folk poetry, culminating with the theme of the Kosovo embroidery. She expressed her gratitude for the honor and wished the contest organizers continued success.
She emphasized that the story of homeland is imperative and that a homeland is not just a place of birth but also a place to which one always returns and understands best.
Aleksandar M. Arsenijević reflected on the deep connection between homeland and identity, stating that, in all its meanings, homeland is the source of a person’s most profound identity.
- “All that is spiritually beautiful, true, good, and lasting springs from the mystery of homeland, inseparable from the mysteries of birth, childhood, innocence, and completeness, where the smallest children resemble the greatest saints, and vice versa,” Arsenijević noted.
He cited the saying, “There is no paradise except in one’s homeland,” adding that forced exile and the knowledge of being forgotten there have always been among the gravest punishments.
Arsenijević highlighted that many Serb writers have drawn inspiration from the mystery of homeland.
Duško M. Petrović, editor of Žrnov magazine, which established the “Izvor” award in 2013, stated that the 2024 contest attracted 105 poems and 60 stories from Serbia, Republika Srpska, and the diaspora.
He mentioned that the shortlist included stories by Milka Stojanović, Sunčica Golović, Đuro Medić, and Negoslav Stanojević, as well as poems by Aleksandar Stanković, Živko Madžarević, Duško Nedović, and Jasna Milenović.
Mlađen Cicović, head of the Representative Office of Republika Srpska, presented the laureates with certificates and cash prizes. He noted that this literary contest holds a special place in the Office’s program aimed at preserving Serb identity, language, script, tradition, culture, and customs.
- “The theme of homeland is inexhaustible, especially considering the historical circumstances that have led many of us to leave it. It is essential to preserve our homeland within ourselves, promote and represent it in the communities where we choose to live permanently, and contribute to these new environments,” Cicović said.
He emphasized that culture, science, and art transcend borders, allowing Serbs to remain united through their shared linguistic and cultural space.
The winning poem “Ljubostinjski vez” by Ljiljana Pavlović Ćirić and the story “Kesten, kukuruz, krasota” by Aleksandar M. Arsenijević will be published in the upcoming issue of Žrnov magazine and on the website of the Representative Office of Republika Srpska in Serbia.
Source: RTRS
