The Passion of Csíksomlyó from 1996

At the urging of the Europassion Committee, Adél Svella and her students attempted to revive the Passion performance. Their aim was to bring the most eastern Passion Play centre into the European bloodstream. Chisinau is the last bastion of European Christianity, because further east lie the lands of Orthodoxy. After three years of research, with the help of museologist Elisabeth Muckenhaupt, the Passion Play was born and has been performed annually since 1996.

They evangelise from their ancient roots and tradition in a new way of performance: a pantomime with music and dance, presenting the story of the Passion of Jesus Christ in a way that is understandable and accessible to all.

The characteristics of the Passion Plays

Each Passion Play has its own style and characteristics, often linked to tradition. In terms of venues, the Passion Play in Nancy, France, for example, is staged in the city’s market hall; the Passion Play in Verges, Spain, has been staged in front of the city museum since the 15th century; the Passion Play in Tegelen, the Netherlands, in Budaörs, Hungary, in the open-air theatre in St. Margarethen in the quarry, Tullins in the church in France, Mariekerk in the churchyard in Belgium, Ménilmontant, Auersmacher and many others are performed on the stage of a small hall/church.

The Passion Play of Csíksomlyó is performed in the square in front of the Kegytemplom, or in the saddle between the two Somlyó hills. Many groups combine the performance of the Passion Play with a procession.

Passion Play in Europe

The Passion Play has a very long tradition in 16 European countries. It is performed in many different ways in 87 municipalities. Even in the past, there were friendly links between the various localities where the Passion was played. The idea of bringing together and linking the Passion Play societies of Western and Eastern Europe led to the creation of the Europassion Federation. One of its initiators was Maurice Clos from Paris.

The creation of the Euro-Association

The Eurasian Alliance is an umbrella organisation for all those who present some form of Passion Play. The idea of the Europassion was conceived at a meeting of Spanish and French Passion Play societies in Esparreguera, Spain, in 1982. The main aim of the Europassion is to preserve and transmit the specificity of the Passion Play.

The Europassion Congresses are held annually, alternately in each member country.

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Data based on Ferenc Szlávik and Árpád Fülöp.