The ceremonial awarding of the “Žiča Chrysobull” to poet Gordana Đilas was held in the Refectory of the Žiča Monastery on the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, Tuesday, August 19th, 2025, beginning at 12 noon. The opening segment of the ceremony featured a performance by the Choir of the Church of the Holy Trinity. The program was hosted by Ana Gvozdenović, M.A., editor for essays and criticism at the National Library “Stefan Prvovenčani” Kraljevo, who welcomed the guests and reflected on the history of the event, the symbolism of the chosen location and date. Quoting Matija Bećković, who twenty years ago called Žiča “one of the birthplaces of the Serbian word,” she described the Feast of the Transfiguration as a symbol of religious, spiritual, intellectual, and cultural transformation in Serbia. The jury – composed of Miroslav Cera Mihailović (last year’s laureate), Dejan Aleksić, Ana Gvozdenović, Miloš Milišić, and Dragan Hamović as jury president – awarded the prize to Gordana Đilas of Novi Sad “for a lyrical search into the deeper foundations of being.” Actor Nebojša Dugalić then read two poems by this year’s laureate: “Lighting the Candle” and “The Bee and the Palm.”
Following this, Dragan Hamović, PhD, jury president and editor of the “Žiča Chrysobull” laureate anthology, offered a concise reflection on Gordana Đilas’s poetic style. He described her as a poet who constantly listens to and observes the world, exploring both the inner and outer realms of her restless being. Her poetry has matured gradually and purposefully, forming a kind of inner biography. Through this process, she has sought to understand herself and others, developing the spiritual foundation of her poetic language. Her work moves between dream and reality, symbolic and archetypal signs, and tangible, concrete images –shaping her poetic worlds.
Ana Gvozdenović then presented the poet’s biography. Born in Nakovo near Kikinda in 1958, Gordana Đilas has authored numerous works and received many awards. She now joins the distinguished recipients of this honor, which includes a unique gold-embossed charter and an icon of the Transfiguration of the Lord, crafted by artist Slobodan Luković.
After another choir performance and poetic reading by Dugalić, Nikola Marinković, literary critic and editor-in-chief of the Serbian Literary Cooperative, spoke. He noted that this award celebrates 40 years since the publication of Gordana Đilas’s first poetry collection by Matica Srpska, and that she has since published 13 books of poetry and one selected volume. He emphasized that although this number may seem modest in today’s age of hyperproduction, it reflects her slow, deliberate creative rhythm, her hope in poetry, and her patient search for the right words. He described the birth of a poem as a sublime moment when everyday life gives way to an authentic experience of space and time—transforming both poet and reader.
The award was presented to Gordana Đilas by Miloš Milišić, аssistant mayor for cultural events, while the monetary portion was handed over by Željko Kosovac, director of the Kraljevo branch of Dunav Insurance.
Protoiereus Stavrophor Father Ljubinko Kostić, deputy of Metropolitan Justin of Žiča, spoke about the mystical quality and nostalgic tone of Gordana Đilas’s poetry.
In her acceptance speech, Gordana Đilas emphasized that poetry is a space of protection, healing, and truth, affirming her belief in the power of words. For her, poetic creation is infused with “transitional states” and moments of light she recognizes in encounters with others. She believes everything is in constant transformation, and that poetry is a way to restore the purity of childhood and offer it to others. Poetry, she said, has the power to heal fears and doubts, creating a safe space within the human soul. She sees it as a testimony to life’s strength and vulnerability, and as a refuge that connects us to the divine. A poem, she added, is also a reflection of spiritual maturity, reached through long and persistent work – but before that moment, it must be summoned, sought, and sometimes even wrestled with. At the same time, Gordana Đilas warned that modern society often neglects poetry and culture, reducing their significance to the efforts of individuals rather than recognizing them as a collective priority. Nevertheless, poetry remains “divine inspiration, the fire of life, and the angel of redemption” that follows humanity – and reveals itself when we are truly ready to see and embrace it.