Ecumenical service dedicated to Antonio and Juraj
Ecumenical services have been celebrated at Pohoda since 2010, and the consent of Anton Srholec was decisive to allow that. He invited the preacher Daniel Pastirčák and evangelical pastor Anka Polcková, and already the very first mass was opened by Rabbi Zev Stiefelʼs singing. The catholic priest Antonio later invited Ibrahim, his close Muslim friend from his house for the homeless Resoty, who would read the morning Quran surahs. This year, the service will be dedicated to Antonio, who not only preached tolerance but also lived it, and also to our friend Juraj Kušnierik. The scenario and form of the services is being prepared by Daniel Pastirčák. The main motive will be the question of how to live your life so that not even death can spoil it... How to answer the questions that life asks us because of the necessity of death?
12. June 2016
Topic
The main topic of the mass will be the parable of a rich fool found in the Gospel: A rich farmer thought that his wealth would provide for his soul, but amid the safety, his sold was required of him. The question of the parable is: what does it mean to be rich in God? In the Slovak language, wealth and God are linked. The parable will be illustrated by a short theatrical performance by Ady Hajdu and Zita Furková.
Music
The ensemble led by Ferko Király and Juraj Adamuščin (vocals) will perform a song by the famous American composer David Lang (author of the music for the films The Great Beauty and Youth). They will play the songs “Pain Changes”, included in the cycle of songs “Death Speaks”, which will be dedicated to Antonio and Juraj. Jozef Lupták will play compositions for cello by Tavener and Godár. We will also hear two songs by Filip and Lasica: “Vyletel vták nad oblaky” and “Do batôžka”.
Guests
In addition to the traditional figures the service, Daniel Pastirčák of the Church of the Brethren and the evangelical pastor Anna Polcková, the service will be celebrated for Catholics by the young Czech priest and scientist Marek Orko Vácha, a vicar at Tomáš Halík in the Saint Salvador´s church in Prague. Daniel continues the form of the services introduced by Antonio Srholec and, therefore, invited the representatives of Judaism and Islam, too. He says: “We live in the times of fear and new hostility—in fear of ISIS and refugee crisis, in the times of growing radicalism not only in our country but throughout the Western world, and we are witnessing a growing anti-Islamism. In this situation, we want to provide room at Pohoda not just to a Jewish rabbi but also to a representative of Islam. The invitation was sent to and accepted by the Rabbi Misha Kapustin and Mohamad Hasna. Both guests will speak about the meaning of life and death from the perspective of Islam and Judaism”. Regarding the main topic, he adds: “I believe that, also after António and Juraj Kušnierik left us, the service will continue to be ending Pohoda full of hope...”