On February 15, a solemn ceremony was held at the Palace of Serbia in Belgrade to mark the country's Statehood Day. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić awarded prizes to 87 outstanding individuals, organizations, and institutions.

Among the recipients was the Sretensky Monastery in Moscow, which was honored with the Sretensky Order of the Third Degree for its exceptional contribution to strengthening spiritual and friendly ties between the Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches, as well as the peoples of the two nations. The award was received on behalf of the monastery by Hieromonk Ignatius Shestakov, as reported by Religija.rs.

Ahead of the ceremony, Father Ignatius spoke on the "Radio Pismo ljubve" program, where he emphasized the deep spiritual bond between Russia and Serbia:
"We are one people. I truly believe this. For me, this is not just rhetoric. We are a united organism, Slavic and Orthodox. We are brothers to such an extent that when a person’s hand hurts, everything hurts. This is how we are connected and always enrich each other. This connection is essential. It has existential significance for us."

Father Ignatius also noted that the award to Sretensky Monastery is especially meaningful in the year marking the 850th anniversary of the birth of Saint Sava of Serbia. He mentioned that today, many young Serbs are coming to Moscow, including children of priests and students interested in the spiritual heritage of Saint Sava: "Never before have so many young people aged 17 to 30 come to study in Moscow. This is a significant intellectual diaspora, and the Sava Days in Russia are becoming more and more noticeable. Personally, this fills me with great optimism!"

Serbia's Statehood Day is celebrated on February 15 and 16. It commemorates the Sretenje Uprising of 1804 against Ottoman rule and the adoption of the Sretenje Constitution of 1835, one of the most progressive in Europe. Since 2002, the holiday has been officially recognized, and since 2012, it has been celebrated for two consecutive days.