The Ecumenical Jury awards the modern day parable: "Gospod postoi, imeto i’ e Petrunija (God Exists, Her Name Is Petrunya)" for its daring portrayal of the transformation of a disempowered young woman into an outspoken defender of women’s rights. When Petrunya spontaneously joins in an Orthodox Church ritual for young men by catching a cross thrown into a river by a priest, she breaks church and social traditions. Her initial refusal to return the cross unleashes her inner strength in the face of institutional conventions and reveals God within her. (Photo:
© sistersandbrothermitevski)
