“Man of God” tells of an Eastern Orthodox saint for everyone

Last updated on: March 10, 2022 at 11:24 am by Sister Rose

“Man of God” tells of an Eastern Orthodox saint for everyone 2022-03-10T11:24:25-07:00 Sister Rose

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Nektarios (Aris Servetalis) is a priest in Alexandria, Egypt in the late 1800s. He was born in Turkey, however, and this lack of Greek citizenship becomes an obstacle and source of suffering during his entire life. The people of Egypt revere him because he is kind, gentle and helps the poor. This makes other priests jealous, and they fear he will be elected the next metropolitan archbishop of Alexandria and Cairo. They slander him and he is expelled from Egypt without any explanation. Rumors follow him wherever he goes for acts of immorality that are never explained.

He travels to Greece and struggles to find a ministry that can sustain him. Eventually he becomes the head of a state-run high school that is both religious and secular. His assistant, Kostas (Alexander Petrov), is faithful and helpful though he has trouble understanding Nektarios’ Gospel-like approach to attacks on his character and unwillingness to embrace ambition to become a “hierarch” or person of power in the Greek Orthodox church. His asceticism (pronounced as-ket-icism in the film), or spiritual and disciplined lifestyle, is often criticized by those who admire him as well as those who oppose him.

Some young women, led by a one who is blind, approach him and ask him to help them become nuns. He agrees and finds a deserted monastery on an island and with the blessing of the local bishop, accompanies them and helps them rebuild the monastery with his salary, some small donations, and trust in God. But even now, he and the nuns are persecuted when the bishop withdraws his approval.

The film was a big hit in Greece when it was released in 2021. But for US audiences who may not be as familiar with the story or the history of eastern Christianity, it is important to know that the Turkish-led Ottoman Empire was Muslim and lasted from the 13th century until 1909. Greece, a mostly Christian country, was conquered in the 15th century and won its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829. As mentioned above, Nektarios was born in Turkey and initially educated there, and the intense bias shown by his hierarchical peers, though Nektarios was a Greek Orthodox Christian, drives the film’s narrative. And if this isn’t enough, when Nektarios is elderly, the Greek secular authorities invade the monastery and accuse him and the nuns of immoral behavior.

In addition to his life of holiness demonstrated through simple charity despite poverty and profound inner suffering, Nektarios was a noted writer of spiritual works and scriptural commentary. He was proclaimed a saint of the Eastern Orthodox Church in 1961.

“Man of God” is slow-moving at first and the lack of detail needed to create the story’s context may be frustrating to a viewer in a hurry. I don’t think we find out Nektarios’ name until 30 minutes in and we do not find out Kostas’ name until the last half hour of the film. These faults notwithstanding, the film is written and expertly directed by Yelena Papovic with high production values and warm cinematography. American Oscar-nominated actor Mickey Rourke gets top billing for a brief portrayal of a paralyzed man with just a few lines of dialogue at the end of the film.

“Man of God” is inspiring and offers a life-story that invites our mature reflection, and it arrives with perfect timing during Lent. Anyone interested in church history and ecumenical dialogue will find this story rather fascinating.

“Man of God” will be released in select theaters nationwide for two days: Monday, March 21, and Monday, March 28 Later online streaming access has yet to be announced.

Tickets may be purchased now: CLICK HERE

Adult Faith Formation

Previous Post

February 22, 2022

"The Proud Family" returns louder and prouder

Next Post

April 22, 2022 "The Bad Guys" show us how to become good guys

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Adolescent Adult Faith Formation Advertising Analysis Animals Pets Animation art Authors Awards best pope pictures Bible BioPic Blogs Book Reviews Books books into film Catechesis Catholic comedy Catholic Social Teaching Catholic Social Teaching (CST) Catholics in Media Christian genre Christmas movies Church and cinema Cognitive science Comedy Comics Commerntary Communication Cooking Courses Critics and Criticism Dance Daughters of St Paul news Devil movies digital games Documentary Drama Economics Ecumenical Education and Technology Education: Access and Empowerment electronic Environment Events Exorcism movies Eye on Entertainment Faith and film Faith formation Fantasy Film Essays Film Festivals Film History Film Retreat Film Reviews Film TV about Ultra Orthodox Jews Food General Grace Historical thriller History Horror How to Images INNdustry with Sister Rose Internet Interviews jesuits Kindness Lectures Lent Life Lists Literature media Media analysis Media Literacy/Media Mindfulness Music Musical National Catholic Reporter New on DVD Non-violence Nonviolence Obituaries On Faith and Media Oscars Ovis et bovis et universe pecore Parenting Pastoral Communication Pastoral communications Pauline Books & Media pax christi PCMS & Online Courses Peace Philosophy Photos Planning for Communication pope francis Popular Culture Radio RCL Benziger reality tv Reflections on life and grace religion Religious Lif Research Resources Retreat Rosary Sacraments Science and faith Social justice Social Media spirituality Spirituality and Media Sports Sr Rose Faith and Media Sr. Rose movies St. Anthony Messenger Stage & Theater stereotypes story Streaming series Survey Television the bible the bible movie The INNdustry with Sr Rose the voice Theater Themes of Catholic Social Teaching theologizing violence Theology theology of violence TV reviews and notes Uncategorized Video Video games Violence VR Games War War films Women World Film Young Adult YouTube

Select a Month September 2025 March 2025 December 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 December 2022 October 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 May 2021 April 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 December 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 January 2019 December 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who said, "Let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Israelites Chaldeans Egyptians People of Babel