In the 18th century, not many people in the country could read and write. It was the exclusive preserve of a few learned scholars. Hence, to convey the message of Christ , St Jose Vaz adopted the medium of puppet theatre that was popular in Goa at that time. He used costumes and puppet dolls brought from Goa to enact Passion plays, which were dramatic presentations of Jesus’ final days of his life from the Last Supper to his Crucifixion. Most of these items used in the plays got destroyed during the time of the Dutch rule in the island.
Fr. Jacome Gonsalvez however, revived the Passion plays using the medium of drama. Making use of statues of the main characters in the Passion of Christ, he staged such Plays, accompanied by recitations of his works and lamentations composed by him, sung, by a chorus of singers. Bolawatta, was the main place where these plays were enacted. It is said that people from far and wide flocked to Bolawatta to see these plays.
These Passions plays became so popular, that other churches in the Island too, enacted them during Lent. The churches were crowded with people of all faiths, who came to see them. The faithful were filled with emotion, some even breaking into tears, on hearing ‘lamentions’, composed by Fr. Gonsalvez, sung by choristers. However, these dramatizations during Lent, have disappeared from most churches today, except in places like Duwa, in Negombo and Bolawatta.
Fr. Jacome Gonsalvez however, revived the Passion plays using the medium of drama. Making use of statues of the main characters in the Passion of Christ, he staged such Plays, accompanied by recitations of his works and lamentations composed by him, sung, by a chorus of singers. Bolawatta, was the main place where these plays were enacted. It is said that people from far and wide flocked to Bolawatta to see these plays.
These Passions plays became so popular, that other churches in the Island too, enacted them during Lent. The churches were crowded with people of all faiths, who came to see them. The faithful were filled with emotion, some even breaking into tears, on hearing ‘lamentions’, composed by Fr. Gonsalvez, sung by choristers. However, these dramatizations during Lent, have disappeared from most churches today, except in places like Duwa, in Negombo and Bolawatta.
Passion Play at Bolawatta Church, Sri Lanka
Old passion play items
Photos & Video Courtesy:
https://www.wikiwand.com/
http://jacomegonsalves.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Bolawatta-Church-166481007119211
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