At the beginning a special greeting of peace - opening service of the passion in the signs of current crises

Created: 05/15/2022, 18:30

By: Catherine Brumbauer

Remembering the current suffering in the world: Cardinal Reinhard Marx (l.) and the Evangelical Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm.

©Andreas Mayr

The wars in the Ukraine or in Yemen, climate change: "The passions of the people today are right before our eyes," says the Protestant regional bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm at the opening service of the Oberammergau Passion Play 2022. Spiritual dignitaries and performers who read intercessions hold an ardent appeal against violence.

Oberammergau - "We're marching in the light of god" - When the choir sings the piece "Syahamba" in the opening service of the Passion, even the spiritual dignitaries do not sit still.

Cardinal Reinhard Marx from the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising, the Evangelical Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, the Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba from Cape Town, who was invited as a guest, Dean Thomas Gröner, pastoral officer Angelika Winterer and Pastor Peter Sachi rock to the beat and encourage the audience to clap along .

It is already clear here that this game of vows fills everyone with particular enthusiasm.

Pieces "on fire": The game master is so in his element that he knocks over the Easter candle.

©Andreas Mayr

Because an entire village was looking forward to its major cultural event that was postponed by two years due to the corona.

The joy and excitement that it can take place can be felt from minute one.

Also with Archbishop Makgoba from South Africa, who met the game director Christian Stückl two years before the pandemic and is now complying with his request to visit him in Oberammergau.

"I'm very impressed," says Makgoba.

"It's amazing that my visit worked out so quickly." The Oberammergau Children's Choir couldn't wait any longer to open the service with a fervent "Hallelujah".

"Thank God we're playing," says Sachi in his greeting, emphasizing every syllable.

You are a gift to the world

Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Archbishop of Munich and Freising

But they play in difficult global political times.

In their joint sermon, Marx and Bedford-Strohm recalled the current suffering in the world.

Be it the war in Ukraine, Yemen or the consequences of climate change.

"The passions of the people today are right before our eyes," says the evangelical regional bishop.

Marx then builds the bridge to the Oberammergau vow game: "Looking at the passion story of Jesus is a great invitation to look at the world through the eyes of the man from Nazareth." Jesus' perspective conveys that exclusion and violence should not be.

"You are a gift to the world," the cardinal says to the Passion contributors.

Makgoba already emphasizes the message of peace in his reading - which can be heard in English for the first time in the vow service: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God," the Anglican Archbishop recites.

The devotion also builds a bridge to Judaism: as in 2010, the choir and people sing the song "Sch'ma Israel", which is considered the Jewish creed.

A bridge to Judaism: Markus Zwink conducts the people to the Hebrew song "Sch'ma Israel", which has been part of the musical Passion repertoire since 2010.

©Andreas Mayr

The actors call for peaceful coexistence as they pray at the rose-decorated altar next to the huge crown of thorns: "Let dictators and warmongers find a way to peace," says Rochus Rückel, one of two Jesus actors.

David Bender, who embodies an angel, vehemently promotes a considerate approach to the world: "Give animals a voice so that we can learn to protect nature more and thus move towards a better future."

The desire for peace is the leitmotif of the service

The longing for an end to suffering and destruction, for peace, is greater among people than it has been for a long time.

So at the end Marx and Bedford-Strohm add the comforting words: The crucifixion is not the last word.

The passion story ends with the resurrection.

The greeting of peace towards the end of the prayer is emotional this year.

The traditional "Peace be with you!" can be heard in German and other languages.

The choir sings the song "Shalom aleichem" which spreads the message in Hebrew.

Makgoba pronounces the greeting in English and Afrikaans.

And Sachi, who lived in Kyiv for nine years, is particularly touched by the current passion.

He sends the people of Ukraine the greeting of peace in their native language: "Myr buty z toboyu."