(Video) scandal because of a theater play challenged by the church

A play staged at the IL Caragiale National Theater in Bucharest has sparked a wave of revolt in the online environment, but also a harsh reaction from the Romanian Patriarchate. This is the show the prophet Ilie, whom Patriarchate claims to use religious symbols inadequate, without valuing their liturgical meaning and their spiritual inheritance for universal history and culture.

« Respecting Christian symbols is an important and necessary act of spiritual and culturally and necessary in an increasingly secularized and inclined world towards an interpretation of discernment of spiritual life. Therefore, we take an act of grief of the defamatory use of the Christian religious symbols during the interpretation of the theater play » Ilie prophets  » To these, without prejudicing in any way their spiritual value ”, it is shown in a statement of the Patriarchate.

And the IL Caragiale National Theater in Bucharest makes details, following the public notifications posted on the social networks, regarding the show Ilie, mounted by director Botond Nagy on a text by Tadeusz Slobodzianek.

« The show Prophet Ilie does not intend to bring any offense to the Christian faith or any other religious belief. On the contrary, installation is a reflection on faith, the fragility of human beliefs and on the dangers of extremism of any kind. It is an artistic approach that encourages tolerance, dialogue and a deeper understanding of human spirit.

In addition, we mention that some images on social platforms have been removed from the real context of the show, presenting isolated fragments in a way that distorts the artistic message of the mounting. The show is not a blasphemy and does not intend to ridicule faith, but, on the contrary, invites a deep reflection on the relationship between man and divinity, on how faith can be influenced or diverted.
As mentioned on the official website of the show, the prophet Ilie is an invitation to sincere meditation on faith and religion in a moment of deep spiritual and moral crisis. Director Botond Nagy stated, before the premiere: ‘I want this artistic project to analyze their own beliefs in a new light and to understand the true value of this miraculous human connections that is faith’.

The play written by Tadeusz Slobodzianek was also mounted in Romania by the reputed director Laszlo Bocsardi, at the ‘Tamasi Aron’ Theater in Sfântu Gheorghe, with a premiere in 2001 and a resumption in 2010. Also, in 2010, at the Municipal Theater in Baia Mare there was another installation of this text. These productions have contributed to the deep exploration and understanding of the text in the Romanian theatrical context.

The IL Caragiale National Theater in Bucharest reaffirms that the show has no intention of blasphemy or lack of respect for religious values. We consider that some critical reactions are the result of an erroneous interpretation of the artistic message, which does not deny, but on the contrary, brings to light the complexity of the relationship between man, faith and society.

We respect the right of each spectator to have their own beliefs and we encourage the open dialogue, in the spirit of the theater values ​​as a space of reflection and freedom of expression. The theater is, by definition, a place of questions, not of the imposed answers, a space in which each spectator has the freedom to interpret and reflect ”, it is stated in a statement sent by TNB.