The 10th anniversary edition of the “Ćirilicom” (“In Cyrillic”) festival, dedicated to Cyrillic heritage and its role in the cultural and spiritual history of the Serbian people, has opened in Budva’s Old Town.

The opening ceremony on August 24 was attended by Metropolitan Joanikije of Montenegro and the Littoral, who spoke about the importance of the Cyrillic alphabet to the Orthodox tradition.

The festival is being held in the square between the churches in Budva’s Old Town and will continue until September 15. Its program includes literary evenings, theater performances, concerts, opera, art exhibitions and discussions on cultural and spiritual heritage. All events are free of charge.

According to the metropolitan’s website, Cyrillic has been connected with the spiritual and cultural history of the Slavic peoples for more than 11 centuries.

Metropolitan Joanikije noted that some of the most important works of Orthodox culture were written in Cyrillic, including the Miroslav Gospel, a 12th-century Serbian manuscript listed in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register.

Speaking about the Serbian tradition, the metropolitan emphasized that Cyrillic was not only a language of literature but also an integral part of the history of Serbian statehood, theology, education and Church life. Through the script, knowledge of theology and philosophy, history and geography, mathematics, music and other sciences was transmitted across generations.

“However long we preserved Serbian Cyrillic, it preserved us even more,” Metropolitan Joanikije said.

At the same time, he stressed that defending Cyrillic should not lead to rejection of other writing systems. Preserving one’s cultural heritage, he said, should go hand in hand with respect for the achievements of other peoples.

The “Ćirilicom” festival was established in Budva in 2017 and has grown from a small literary program into a major international cultural forum. The first festival lasted five days and included events dedicated to the legacy of Petar II Petrović-Njegoš and his epic poem *The Mountain Wreath*.

This year’s opening program featured a presentation of the book *Cyril and Methodius: WHO ARE YOU* and the opening of the exhibition *And There Was the Word* at the Santa Maria in Punta Church. Further events will include theater premieres, musical performances, literary gatherings and programs devoted to spiritual heritage.