Mel Gibson at the Hilandar Monastery on the feast of Vidovdan

The acclaimed actor, director, and producer Mel Gibson stayed at the Holy Monastery of Hilandar from June 27 to 29.

During the visit, he attended the celebration of Hilandar’s founder’s feast, the feast of the Holy Martyr Prince Lazar (Vidovdan).

He came to the Hilandar Monastery for profound spiritual reasons. Deeply devoted to the foundations of the Christian faith, both through his personal life and his prolific cinematic work, he visited the monastic brethren of Hilandar, seeking prayerful peace and a direct encounter with the Orthodox tradition, which has been continuously preserved there for over eight centuries.

He was present during the church services, shared monastic meals, and spoke with the monks. Abbot Methodius introduced him to the monastery’s sacred treasury, the history of Hilandar, and the monastic way of life. He especially conveyed the spiritual significance of Vidovdan, the Kosovo Covenant, and the sacrifices that the Serbian people made in their struggle for freedom and the defense of Christianity, offering them for the sake of the Heavenly Kingdom.

Mel Gibson’s time on Mount Athos and at the Hilandar Monastery was also part of his search for spiritual inspiration ahead of filming The Resurrection of Christ, which is set to begin in September. His acclaimed film The Passion of the Christ, depicting the events from Jesus Christ’s life leading up to the Crucifixion, profoundly impacted the entire Christian world—and beyond. The Resurrection of Christ will follow the events that unfolded after the Son of God rose from the dead.

Photo by monk Milutin Hilandarac and David Pavlović