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Re-enacting the passion of Christ
By Lenard R. Mahaarachchi
Passover is the event that marks the exodus referred to in the Old Testament in the Bible. The exodus, the returning of the Chosen People of God from exile in Egypt back to the Promised Land, which occurred three and a half millennia ago, was given a new connotation in the New Testament by Jesus Christ with His Passion, Death and Resurrection.

Commonly called the feast of the Pasch, which to the Sinhala Christians is Pasku from the Portuguese word, the occasion recalls the last days of Jesus on earth. Ever since the death of Jesus this feast has been celebrated up to the present time. It is considered the greatest feast of Christendom. In theological terms it is called the Passover, or the passage, that marks the passage of Christ from death to life.

Christians believe that in the death of Jesus which is the mystery of Redemption, man, fallen from grace, was reconciled with his Creator, death was destroyed and life restored.

This feast of Easter is preceded by Lent, a period of 40 days of penance, fasting and prayer, preparing the faithful for the feast of the Resurrection. Among the religious exercises that are particular to the season of Lent is the Way of the Cross, recalling the steps taken by Jesus from the Judgment given by Pilate to the moment His Body was interred in the tomb.

Not all 14 stations of the Way of the Cross are based on scripture. The scenes enacted at station No. 4 and 6 or the meeting of Jesus with His mother and the wiping of His face by Veronica are not recorded and are said to be strands of legend. But since we find Mary at the foot of the cross on Calvary, it can be speculated that she would have met Jesus somewhere on the way, despite it not being recorded in the four gospels.

The Way of the Cross has found an important place in the devotions connected to the Passion and Death of Jesus. The scenes once restricted to churches now find expression in places like Hiniduma, Makola, Mawathagama, Maggona and Horana which become places of pilgrimage during the Lenten season.

During Lent, the Way of the Cross is acted out in scenes where the earlier statues are now replaced by men and women who portray the characters, bringing the story to life for viewers.

Veteran dramatist Chandra Kirthi Kularatne with a group of devoted and committed men and women now brings us a Way of the Cross in drama style related to contemporary life. Titled ‘Api Ethera Wemu’ - let us pass over - it has already been enacted 84 times since its inception in 1992.

The play is acted on three platforms where the centre stage depicts the Way of the Cross as per life's struggle today, beginning with the garden scene at Gethsemane and climaxing with the Resurrection scene, after the Crucifixion. Kirthi who introduces a new theme every year, has taken ‘Love your nation as you love yourself’ as this year's message.

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