"Let's Dance, Herr Pfarrer": Geistlicher dances to "Sing Hallelujah" at Easter and becomes an internet star
Created: 04/27/2022, 07:32
By: Laura May
Dance choreography at Easter turns Bavarian priest Andreas Artinger into an internet star – he wants to lure young people into church with a disco atmosphere.
Schweinhütt – the same Easter fair every year?
That was always too boring for parish vicar Andreas Artinger.
"In my last parish in Ruhstorf an der Rott (Passau district), I always organized the Easter mass a bit differently for 20 years," says the 63-year-old.
He thinks like the singer Pink in her song "God is a DJ": If God is a disc jockey, life is a dance floor.
Regen: Dancing Priest: “Make the Liturgy Alive”
Artinger has been working for the Regen-Langdorf parish association in Lower Bavaria (Regen district) for 10 years - and this year he came up with something again to make the Easter Mass an entertaining experience for everyone.
"It's about making the liturgy lively," says the priest.
He wants to creatively expand the well-known Easter traditions.
The whole fair became a staging of light, music and dance.
An illuminated altar cross, drumbeats, table fireworks.
Rain: Acolytes and priests dance to "Sing Hallelujah!" by Dr.
Albanian
"The whole service was geared towards the dance," says Artinger.
To the song "Sing Hallelujah!" by Dr.
Alban from 1993, Artinger rehearsed a choreography with his ministries.
Led by a professional dancer, the performance was prepared.
Finally, it was a video of the dance that the small branch parish of Schweinhütt spread far beyond the borders of Lower Bavaria on YouTube.
On YouTube alone, the video “Ostertanz 2022 Schweinhütt” already has almost 50,000 views.
Parish vicar Andreas Artinger offered a special dance performance at Easter.
© ScreenshotYouTube
(By the way: Our Bayern newsletter informs you about all the important stories from Bavaria. Register here.)
Rain: The video becomes a viral hit: almost 50,000 views on YouTube
"I was of the opinion that it would remain something regional," says Priest Artinger.
Nevertheless, he is happy that he was able to spread Easter joy with the video of his dance and that the church is once again coming to the public with positive headlines instead of the abuse scandal.
"I am pleased that the campaign has received so much positive feedback."
During the Easter Mass, it was immediately noticeable that people were happy about the creative liturgy.
"They jumped up, took part, it was a great Easter atmosphere." In the days that followed, Andreas Artinger could hardly save himself from press inquiries.
BR24, katzenburg.de, Passauer Neue Presse - everyone wanted to know more about the eccentric Easter festival.
Rain: Comments on Youtube - almost only enthusiasm
The joy of many people at the fresh wind in the church is manifested in the comments on YouTube.
A user writes: "The church needs more of such a relaxed and open-minded pastor as Mr. Artinger." "Let's Dance, Mr. Pastor!
Oh, if only there were more priests like this one!” Says another user.
The vast majority of comments are positive.
Only a few statements see a mockery of the Holy Mass in the dance performance and wish for traditional Easter customs.
For example, a gentleman writes: “D'leid weand gottlos.
Apostasy and corruption are returning.”
Rain: Priest Artinger: "Last week I was asked about it everywhere"
Artinger was also showered with feedback in the town and its immediate surroundings.
Old acquaintances got in touch, letters from his old parish reached him, the phone rang.
"Last week I was asked about it everywhere." A good week after Easter, the hype is slowly dying down again.
And Andreas Artinger is already looking forward to next year.
All news and stories from Bavaria can now also be found on our brand new Facebook page Merkur Bayern.