On June 10, 2026, the International Multimedia Press Center of MIA Rossiya Segodnya hosted a press conference dedicated to the results of the XV season of the Patriarchal Literary Prize named after Saints Cyril and Methodius.
The participants were Metropolitan Kliment of Kaluga and Borovsk, Chairman of the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, Nikolai Ivanov, member of the Board of Trustees of the Patriarchal Literary Prize, Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the Board of the Writers' Union of Russia, and Nikolai Burlyaev, director and writer of the Patriarchal Literary Prize of the XV season.
The head of the Publishing Council told how the jubilee award season was held, focusing on the specifics of the selection of authors at each stage — from the formation of a long list of candidates to the ceremony of election and awarding of the award winners.
Metropolitan Kliment recalled that the short list of the Patriarchal Literary Prize in 2026 included: Vasily Aksenov, Nikolai Burlyaev, Valentina Efimovskaya, Alexander Kerdan, Mikhail Kuraev, Sergei Mikheenkov, Igor Smolkin (Izbortsev), Natalia Sukhinina, Priest Nikolai Tolstikov, and the winners were Vasily Aksenov, Nikolai Burlyaev, Igor Smolkin (Izbortsev).
N.F. Ivanov dedicated his speech to the literary prizes that currently exist in Russia and the place of the Patriarchal Literary Prize among them, noting the importance of this award.
N.P. Burlyaev spoke about his creative career and expressed confidence that those people who serve with their talent remain in literature and in the memory of readers. To God and the Fatherland.
Answering questions from journalists, Metropolitan Kliment, Chairman of the Publishing Council, and Nikolai Ivanov, Executive Secretary of the secretariat of the Board of the Writers' Union of Russia, stressed that literature should preserve the memory of the Great Patriotic War, how people stood up in those years, defended, and liberated their Homeland.
N.F. Ivanov spoke about the work of the Writers' Union with young authors. He paid special attention to literature about CW, its development, and the main trends, and emphasized that thoughtful work, deep reflection, and the development of writing skills are necessary to properly reflect CW in works.
The head of the Publishing Council noted that the works of the winners of the Patriarchal Literary Prize help the younger generation to learn the main thing, and also stressed that young people must have a sense of Homeland and respect for history.
At the end of the event, Metropolitan Kliment said that with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the Club of the Patriarchal Literary Prize Winners named after Saints Cyril and Methodius began its activities at the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church. At the end of May, the first meeting was held, at which a number of creative and educational meetings were scheduled.