Mel Gibson Celebrates Vidovdan at Hilandar Monastery

Mel Gibson celebrates Vidovdan at the Holy Monastery Hilandar on Mount Athos. Photo: David Pavlovic

MOUNT ATHOS — Following reports that Hollywood star Mel Gibson had arrived at the Holy Monastery Hilandar on Friday, June 27, the monastery provided another update on Gibson’s trip today.

He spent the holiday of Vidovdan, or St. Vitus Day, with the brotherhood there, joining them for a communal meal and attending an all-night vigil.

The Night Vigil and the Holy Liturgy were presided over by the Most Reverend Archimandrite Methodije, abbot of the monastery.

The celebration is one of the most important in the Serbian Church’s calendar, as it is the designated memorial day for St. Prince Lazar and the Serbian holy martyrs who fell in the Battle of Kosovo against the Ottoman Empire on this same day in 1389.

Photo: Monk Milutin Hilandarac

The monastery confirmed that Gibson plans to spend several days on the Holy Mountain, where he is praying and seeking spiritual inspiration for the filming of “The Resurrection of the Christ,” the sequel to the 2004 film, “The Passion of the Christ,” which is set to begin production this September.

“His earlier film, ‘The Passion of the Christ,’ which depicted the events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, had a profound impact on the Christian world and beyond,” the monastery said in a social media post. “The upcoming ‘Resurrection’ will portray the events following the resurrection of the Son of God. Over the years, Mel Gibson has spoken publicly about his faith and Christianity, expressing a deep conviction in the authenticity of biblical events, which has motivated him to bring them to the screen.”

Previously, UOJ reported on Gibson’s arrival to Mount Athos.

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