“Man of God,” the award-winning film based on the life of Greek Orthodox St. Nektarios of Aegina, will screen in New York City on Wednesday, February 23.
The screening will take place at the Museum of the Moving Image, located at 36-01 35th Ave in Astoria, Queens, inside of the museum’s Summer M. Redstone Theater. Doors will open at 6:00pm and the film will begin at 7:00pm. The film’s runtime is one hour and 49 minutes.
The screening is organized by the Greek America Foundation, a New York-based charity which aims to promote, preserve and perpetuate Greek culture, history and ideals in North America. The organization’s founder and president, Gregory Pappas, will offer brief remarks about the film before it begins.
A minimum donation of $50 per guest is required for admission. Registration is available through the foundation’s website.
“Man of God” depicts the trials and tribulations of St. Nektarios as he bears the unjust hatred of his enemies while preaching the word of God. Nektarios was stripped of his church and exiled from Egypt but continued to care for the poor, teach peasant girls to read and write and established a convent on the Greek island of Aegina which continues to attract visitors.
Despite the efforts of the religious establishment to discredit him and dismantle his good works over decades, St. Nektarios convent on Aegina remains a beacon to pilgrims.
Even his last moment on earth was used to help another: Upon his death, Nektarios’ undergarment was removed, and as it fell upon the paralyzed man in the hospital bed next to him, the man arose to walk.
The film is directed by Yelena Popovic and stars prominent Greek actor Aris Servetalis as St. Nektarios. The picture also features Mickey Rourke who portrays a man miraculously healed by Nektarios. Rourke was nominated for an Academy Award in 2009 for “The Wrestler.”
Filming took place in various locations relevant to St. Nektarios’ life including on Aegina and in the Aretaeio Hospital of central Athens where he died.
All proceeds from the screening will benefit the Greek America Foundation’s philanthropic and charitable endeavors, including its annual Greek America Corps program which sends young North Americans on service and cultural immersion trips to Greece in the summer.