Orthodox Reflections

Without a doubt, this movie is a win-win in every way. While secular films can only be assessed according to Man’s wisdom, this work stands on a much higher level because it depicts a true story of a real man that lived and persevered in virtue in spite of all odds. Nothing “la-la land” here.

This is a win for Orthodox in general and especially the Greek Orthodox of the world. Not having been to a theater movie in over a year—nothing worth watching—, this was a great treat. While going to movies is rare for me, occasionally I find a movie worth seeing again, e.g. The Man Who Invented Christmas, Christmas Carol (all redoes), The Lion King (cartoon). Every once in a while Hollywood gets it right (even a broken clock is right twice a day).

Generally, when I have seen a movie, it becomes a “been there, done that” and I move on to something else; but this one I will see again…and again.

Leave it to the Greeks to hit a home run. Every Orthodox church bookstore should have it (DVD) on the shelf and give it away to visitors. While Big Fat Greek Wedding searches out what it is to be Greek—Greek American—, this one searches out piety in the Greek context; much more valuable.

Sitting next to the local Presbytera and Priest, she kept me in my chair at the end to not miss the filming documentary after the credits rolled—a very long list of obviously Greek names—this was her second viewing. But that too, was well worth the time as the director explains an undeniable miracle that happened during the filming process: with a special thanks and veneration to Archangel Michael. Who says miracles do not happen to the Orthodox?

While some actors may be non-Greeks, true to form—everything else was all in the family—manned stem to stern with Greeks. Here, the ethnicity is obviously the strength.

Christian Movies

As a breakthrough in Orthodox Christian cinema, let us put it into the bigger American context of Christian movies.

Early on the Protestants have been doing “Christian” cinema to get the message out so to speak. The Cross and the Switchblade came out in 1970 and the Thief in the Night series started in 1972. Later, the Thief in the Night got a redo, Left Behind.  The books for Left Behind were written by Tim Lahaye and Jerry B Jenkins, the father of Dallas Jenkins who produces The Chosen.

Quality wise, Man of God is in the caliber of The Chosen, but without the advantage of having unlimited episodes to keep filling out the plot and correcting prior mistakes. As a one time shot, Yelena Popovic et al, had to fire a single silver bullet perfectly to compress so much into two hours. Given the objective, it works remarkably well.

What I Liked Most

It was remarkably clean. By clean, I mean, not having so much improvisation that the viewer gets trapped in all kinds of romantic subplots having nothing to do with the core message. Obviously, the purpose here was not to make somebody rich, but rather to make the world a better place by demonstrating holy men still do exist and that some of them are Greek.

Additionally, it avoids the daft quasi-righteousness many Protestant movies fall into by forcing a surreal piety where the main character speaks with a stained-glass voice full of faux-pious overtones.

My Take-Aways

1. Often, true piety is forced to go it alone. After trying time and again to work “within the system” of hierarchy, when it became impossible, he went it alone.
2. True piety sees people as God’s highest treasures. The young orphaned women desired to become nuns. While the “establishment” had no place for them—because there is no room in their hearts—, St. Nektarios—having room in his heart—was ready to do whatever it took to make room for this extraordinary expression of virtue, to give it a place to grow, flower, and flourish. Here, he saw opportunity rather than lack. These young women had a unique bond, all being orphaned as children. This forged a natural sisterhood other monasteries can only dream of.
3. True piety often thinks outside the box. True saints are light and agile, able to maneuver around any situation—demonstrated by the many prostrations. Others weighted down with self-importance cannot elevate[1] and are locked into narrow thought processes. In taking the punishment that would normally have been allocated to the boys who were fighting, St. Nektarios stuns everyone by not solving the problem in the normal way. In so doing, not only did the boys stop fighting, but they bonded to him and each other. The boys were marked for life—in a positive way—, by something unexpected. For St. Nektarios, the problem was an opportunity.
4. Among hierarchs, corruption has a long standing tradition. In my continual thinking and rethinking the Orthodox Faith, I have come to the conclusion everything above the regional/local bishops—like paying taxes—is necessary evil. St. Nektarios actually says this in a statement that connects power with cancer. From the first Ecumenical Council, hierarchy has always been self-conscious of position. Nine times out of ten, when you take a shepherd and elevate him far above the sheep, he loses touch with his inner shepherd and the Good Shepherd Himself. It ruins him every time. This is the bane of educational systems. When a teacher becomes very good at his craft—kids actually like him/her and they actually learn something worthy of the time. They then make him/her an administrator, thinking this gift will then come on all under their care. It never works that way. Inherently, the reward system is upside down. Teachers should get paid more than administrators. As I have said before, the center of gravity is in the diocesan bishop and when the upper governs, it always gravitates toward corrupt Papalism.  While there are exceptions (Bp Irenei-ROCOR Europe), the rule still stands.
5. True wealth is generational. The true measure of a man or woman is not just what they are during their lifetime, but what they leave behind. If the influence of the dear Saint were suddenly removed from the world and Greek monasticism as well, a gaping hole would be left. Among other things, we would have fewer monastics and fewer monasteries. His suffering is our wealth. God help us manage it wisely to not squander what has been bequeathed through adversity.
6. Finally, if you are piously, highly motivated, eager to do God’s every bidding; do not expect an easy go of it. As a son of the Church, St Nektarios fits into a rare category of those bent on making a difference in the world. Not everybody fits—and rightly so— into this category of aggressive movers and shakers. When they come on the scene, the establishment Church often makes no room for them, because he/she creates a sort of threat to their cushy situations. They represent Jesus driving out the money changers and overturning somebody’s profit system. When they show up, take note as it is a good omen of things to come. Demonstrating the Spirit and Power of Elijah, they signal a new generation refreshed with the touch of God revitalizing the Church.

Final note: As for those who made the film possible—Yelena et al—not only have you put into medium of film a holy life, but in so doing also demonstrated a prime quality of St. Nektarios – going against the tide.

Please, feel free to share your own impressions in the comments.

John Lee

[1] See G.K. Chesteron on saints and levitation in Orthodoxy.