[Idorsearogele]

Father Raphael, Richard Leigh, Daniel J., and all:

Thanks to this particular discussion thread my family and parish priest now look at me like I’m suffering some kind of paranoia about Gibson’s movie. At our parish bible study, a group was planning to go together to the opening of the movie, and another parish group even mentioned renting a van so they could all go together. I tried to just say, “slow down, shouldn’t someone screen this movie from an Orthodox perspective first, before we adopt the seeing of it as a parish group activity?” Well, then it started. “It’s just a movie.” “Didn’t you ever watch The Ten Commandments?” “What could possibly be the harm?” And from my wife,”are you spending too much time on the computer with that Monachos thing again?”

All of which caused me to reflect on why I was already having my guard up about this movie, even before reading the discussion here. And I think it has to do with my perception that the movie is being marketed as something more than just good entertainment, but rather as some type of religious experience. I’ve enjoyed watching The Ten Commandments on more that one occasion, but cannot recall DeMille ever referring to having to attend church daily in order to properly direct the film, nor hearing stories of actors converting because of their association with the film. It puts me on my guard that the hype for this film would give one the impression that Gibson was some type of 21st century iconographer, using film as his medium, and that his movie is already producing “miracles”.

Someone seeking entertainment can go see a movie if they choose. Someone seeking a religious experience of Christ’s Passion ought to observe, to the best of their ability, the fast (physical and spiritual) of Great Lent, and then attend all of the Holy Week services, especially the Orthros Service of Holy Friday which is celebrated on Thursday evening during Holy Week. This particular service is long by our current standards, and includes the reading of twelve Gospels, all dealing with the passion and crucifixion. Many avoid the service due to its length, yet most who take the pains to attend, even once or twice, soon find it to be a service that is longed for, and not to be missed, if at all possible.

There is a moment, during this service, when the crucifix bearing the icon of our crucified Lord, is brought out in procession by the Priest, then is placed on a stand on the raised area in front of the Iconostasis. During this procession the priest chants:

"Today is hung upon the Tree, He Who suspended the land in the midst of the waters.
A crown of thorns crowns Him, Who is the King of Angels.
He is wrapped about with the purple of mockery, Who wrappped the Heavens with clouds.
He received buffetings, Who freed Adam in the Jordan.
He was transfixed with nails, Who is the Son of the Virgin.
We worship Thy Passion, O Christ.
Show also unto us Thy glorious Resurrection."

The faithful then come forward to light a candle, and reverence the icon of our crucified Lord while the chanters are chanting one of the most beautiful of our hymns, at least in the Byzantine musical tradition one of the most beautiful:

“They took away my garments from Me,
and put upon Me a scarlet robe;
they set upon My Head a crown of thorns,
and gave a reed into My right Hand,
that I may break them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

Personally, I get a feeling that our Lord, through His Church, has blessed us here to, in some way, share in the experience of the events that took place 2000 years ago. I also get the feeling that He blesses me by holding back His angels, to keep them from grabbing me by the collar and removing me from so holy a place and moment.