World Youth Day Reenacts Christ's Passion and Death

Friday July 18, 2008

World Youth Day reenacted Christ's last days in the Stations of the Cross held at various venues in Sydney in the afternoon of July 18, 2008, local time.

Presenting the passion and death of Christ was a cast of some 80 performers who had been rehearsing since April.

The public viewed parts of the Stations of the Cross at outdoor public venues such as The Domain, the forecourt of Sydney Opera House, and Cockle Bay at Darling Harbour.

Following the events on foot was not recommended due to movement problems caused by the influx of large crowds. At least one part of the Stations of the Cross was not able to be viewed live by the public but the whole event was seen on large television screens at Circular Quay, the Royal Botanic Gardens, The Domain and at the live sites where parts of the Stations of the Cross were staged.

The reenactment of the Stations of the Cross began at 3pm with the Last Supper at St Mary's Cathedral with a special appearance by Pope Benedict XVI and a performance by the St Mary's Cathedral choir.

Christ's agony in the Garden of Gethsemane and his betrayal by Judas took place in The Domain. He then went before the Sanhedrin at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the only "station" in the reenactment which was not open to either pilgrims or other members of the public due to venue and movement problems but was viewable on the television screens.

The reenactment then moved to the Sydney Opera House steps and forecourt where Christ stood before Pontius Pilate, and was scourged and crowned with thorns. He then carried his cross to Cockle Bay in Darling Harbour, with Christ and cross ferried on an open watercraft from Circular Quay.

From Darling Harbour on the way to Barangaroo, he fell under the weight of the cross and was helped by Simon of Cyrene, symbolically portrayed by an Aboriginal Australian, who carried Christ's cross part of the way to Christ's Golgotha.

Along the way Christ spoke to the women of Jerusalem as he was being led to the Barangaroo stage where he was stripped of clothing and tied to the cross.

This is where he then spoke with the Good Thief, and with his mother Mary and disciple John.

On his death, he was brought down from the cross.

The reenactment of the World Youth Day Stations of the Cross was shown live or in delayed telecast on television screens in Australia and other countries throughout the world.

Other events on the day:

In the hour before the Stations of the Cross and from 7pm to 10pm, a cultural dance program took place at Hyde Park featuring Australian indigenous dancers as well as dancers from Malaysia, Latin America, Polynesia, India, Burma and Tahiti.

Also from 7pm to 10pm was the scheduled Receive the Power - Live! concert at the Hungry Mile.