Emir Kusturica awarded the Patriarch Alexy II Prize

Outstanding Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica has been awarded the Patriarch Alexy II Prize established by the International Public Foundation of Orthodox Nations. Its president Mr. V. Alexeyev, who was on a visit to Beograd, presented Mr. Kustirica with a message from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and informed him about the foundation’s decision to award him the prize ‘in recognition of his outstanding work to consolidate the unity of Orthodox nations and assert and promote Christian values in society’, during his meeting on 19 October with Metropolitan Amphilohije of Montenegro and Coastlands. Mr. Alexeyev also invited Mr. Kusturica to come to Moscow on 21 January 2009 for the awarding ceremony. Mr. Kustirica with gratitude accepted the decision and the invitation from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and the president of the foundation.

Among other prize-winners in 2009 is St. Vladimir’s Seminary of the Orthodox Church in America. Winners in other nominations will be announced later.

During their meeting, Metropolitan Amphilohije and Mr. Alexeyev also discussed the work of the foundation’s branch in Serbia, Montenegro and in the Balkans in general and joint efforts under the foundation’s projects for strengthening the spiritual unity and cooperation of political, public and religious leaders in the countries of Eastern Christian tradition.