By the decision of the jury of the 67th International Belgrade Book Fair, the Best Publisher from the Diaspora and the Region 2024 award went to the Metropolis of Montenegro and the Littoral for the monograph Manuscript Book of the Monastery of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Cetinje, authored by Milena Martinović. Archpriest Aleksandar Lekić accepted the award on behalf of the publisher.
Selected works of academician Rajko Kuzmanović in 12 books, published by Pravoslavna reč and the Academy of Sciences and Arts of the Republic of Srpska - Novi Sad, Banja Luka, were also shortlisted for the award.
In explaining the decision of the Best Publisher from the Diaspora and the Region in 2024 award, the jury states that "the monograph of the Manuscript Book of the Monastery of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Cetinje, authored by Milena Martinović, published by the Metropolis of Montenegro and the Littoral, represents one of the few preserved Serbian medieval monastery libraries".
"In addition to the description of all the manuscripts of today's Cetinje collection, as well as the reconstruction of the manuscript collection of the Piva monastery, part of which was transferred to the Cetinje monastery, the author collected and presented data on books that once belonged to this collection and are now in various foreign libraries. The special value of Milena Martinović's book is the presentation of cultural circumstances, spiritual and church life in the territory of today's Montenegro during the 16th and 17th centuries," the announcement states.
The design and layout of the book was done by professor Mirko Toljić, MSc, and it was printed at the Rotografika printing house in Subotica.
The jury of the 67th International Belgrade Book Fair consisted of Irena Špadijer (president), Tatjana Nježić, Mile Bjelajac, Zoran Paunović and Marko Krstić.