Orthodox Reflections

On November 17, 2024, the documentary film People of Christ—Our Time was officially premiered at the National Theatre of the Republic of Srpska in Banja Luka. The film explores the current circumstances surrounding Ukrainian Orthodoxy, focusing on the suffering of the Orthodox Church, its clergy, and the faithful in Ukraine.

Professor Emir Kusturica, one of the heroes and co-authors of the film, stated that this film marks the beginning of a long battle for the survival of Orthodoxy as a culture. He emphasized the ongoing persecution of the faithful and clergy, as well as the destruction of churches belonging to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under the current government.

Originally premiering on September 18, 2024, in Belgrade, Serbia, the documentary People of Christ—Our Time has emerged as a vital cultural work and garnered significant attention for its poignant portrayal of religious persecution and the resilience of faith amidst adversity. The film’s executive producer, Mirko Radenovic, handed a letter to the Republic of Srpska President Milorad Dodik asking him to mediate the release of Ukrainian priests and declared him the film’s ambassador.

The recent premiere in Banja Luka was attended by Bishop Irinej of Backa and Tamara Damjanović, an MP of the Socialist Party of Serbia, who supported this important cultural event. During the premiere, speakers, including Emir Kusturica, expressed deep concern about the ongoing persecution of Orthodoxy in Ukraine amidst the current conflict.

The interviewees in the film are: Metropolitan Irinej, world-renowned director Emir Kusturica, Ruslan Kalinchuk, an oppressed missionary and literary scholar from Ivano-Frankivsk, Father Nikolai Mohilny from Kyiv who was forced to leave his homeland for his religious affiliation; Vukan Marković, professor of philosophy at the University of Cambridge, Jan Taksjur, a poet, writer, and television presenter from Kyiv who was arrested in 2022 and released in a prisoner exchange in 2023, and Mario Selvini, an Orthodox priest, philosopher, and poet from Italy.

Mirko Radenovic previously explained that the idea for the film arose from the harsh realities in Ukraine, as well as the challenges faced by the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo and Metohija: “This is a reality that is current on the territory of Ukraine, but we can also remember the recent events on our territory, remember the situation in Kosovo and Metohija with our people and the Church. We wanted to show the world what can hardly be seen anywhere in the media,” he said.

“We want to show an objective situation. It is not just a schism in the church, but serious, aggressive, and violent attacks on Orthodox Christians,” the director and screenwriter of the movie, Jovan Markovic, stated.

Above, His Eminence Metropolitan Longin of Bancheny after his beating in Jan. 2024, only one example of the crimes being committed against Christians by both commonplace thugs and professional Ukrainian government thugs.

Kusturica remarked: “Someone sold the war to Ukraine, and the pressing question is who will pay the interest. What will the situation be in areas where Orthodox Christianity is being suffocated?” He drew parallels to historical events, stating, “Every person of goodwill should stand with the persecuted Ukrainian priests. This mirrors the March pogrom in Kosovo, part of a broader effort to destroy Orthodoxy and undermine cultures that prioritize freedom.”

“It is tragic that Europe, which is supposedly democratic, is silent. The situation is tragic, and many priests and citizens are in prisons, and temples have been taken away,” Ukrainian philosopher Ruslan Kalinchuk noted.

Bishop Irinej spoke even bolder: “I don’t think this film needs any commentary or praise. It speaks for itself, but it also tells us all the truth about our world, our times, and ourselves. We can say that there are no forces of evil, including this unfortunate man who portrays the head of the Ukrainian state, or unfortunately of the former state, who I am sure does not believe in the Jewish, Christian, or Muslim faith, and who has gone to war against God. There have been many persecutors of Christians, destroyers, torturers, and villains, from Nero and Diocletian to our days, but no one has ever dared to abolish the Church as such. And this wretch has done it,” commented His Grace concerning the anti-church bill No 8371 signed into law by Volodymyr Zelensky in late summer this year.

“For us Serbs, Orthodoxy is eternal; it is the foundation of our existence. Recently, there were attempts to implement a scenario similar to what is happening in Ukraine in Montenegro. However, the people and clergy organized effectively to resist this and normalize relations within the society. We believed it was essential to create a film that could help people view the current situation more righteously,” Mirko Radenovic stated.

People of Christ—Our Time stands as a powerful testament to the resilience of faith and the importance of solidarity in preserving cultural identities. As the film continues to reach international audiences, it has the potential to inspire dialogue and action in support of those who suffer for their beliefs, reinforcing the need for solidarity among Orthodox Christians worldwide. The film not only highlights the struggles of the present but also serves as a reminder of the enduring power of faith in the face of adversity.

Following the premiere screenings in Belgrade and Banja Luka, the film is set to be shown in Montenegro, North Macedonia, and further among the diaspora in countries such as Austria, Germany, France, the USA, and Argentina.

If anyone knows of an upcoming screening, please drop the information in the comments below.