Mel Gibson on pilgrimage to Mount Athos – I’ve never felt such a strong connection with God as I felt here

Mel Gibson made a pilgrimage to Mount Athos. The renowned director of the movies The Passion of the Christ and Braveheart spent a few days at the Hilandar monastery.

“I’ve never felt such a strong connection with God as I felt here,” said Mel Gibson. The actor and director came to Mount Athos for a few days to participate in the life of the monastery, as well as to take part to Vidovdan, a big celebration for Serbs.

Mel Gibson on Mount Athos, blessed with Holy Water by an Orthodox monk. A profound and rare moment. 🕊️✝️🩵 pic.twitter.com/hS1Ug1HOiE

— Greek City Times (@greekcitytimes) June 29, 2025

According to Greek and international media sources, Gibson stopped at Hilandar Monastery, one of the oldest monastic settlements on the Athonite peninsula, for spiritual renewal.

Gibson, who has in the past expressed admiration for Orthodox Christian values, chose to spend some quiet time at Hilandar, a monastery founded in the 12th century by the Serbian saints Sava and Simeon.

Vidovdan is a very important celebration for Serbs and is marked on June 28, which is June 15 in the old style, on the day of St. Vitus. In the year 1389, on this very day, St. Prince Lazar, together with the Holy Serbian Martyrs, fell to the Ottomans during the Battle of Kosovo. It was an act of great nobility of the spirit.

On the night before the battle, it is said that a hawk appeared to Prince Lazar. It asked him whether he wanted the earthly kingdom or the heavenly. Lazar’s choice was categorical. “If I choose the earthly, it is ephemeral – but if I choose the heavenly, it is eternal,” he said.

The next day, he told his knights about the message he had received. They went to fight, knowing that they would die for their faith and their people. They were all killed, including the Sultan in the Ottoman camp.

yogaesoteric
July 2, 2025

Also available in: Română