Date Posted:23:29:31 12/21/99 Tue Author: - Barry Author Host/IP: zoom.lafn.org / 206.117.18.8 Subject: Your Patron Saint
Some of you know that one of my many callings was into the Lutheran ministry... at Augustana College - many years ago. That I could not finish that education, and perhaps be of some good to you... I acknowledge to my horror and shame.
While the following deals with Christian faith, it is, beyond that, something intended for us all: Faithful, faithless, fallen, fearing or free.
There is a story that I have been meaning to tell you for some time now... and, while memory and effort last... this is it.
A comedic actor, born in Rome, was enjoying unparalleled success and the 3rd century's equivalent of fame. His name was Genesius and, after becoming known for his improvisations and parodies, he was called to perform for the Emperor Diocletian.
As was the custom in those days, the person paying the actor chose the subject matter. Diocletian had made it his personal business to rid the empire of christians... and had also chosen this as the subject of the comedy Genesius was to weave.
Genesius, quite the everyday actor, did a little research and found that the rituals surrounding baptism and conversion seemed the most likely targets for his comedy. History records his own religious beliefs being either so common or passe as to be not worth mentioning.
The actor concocted a story - by all reports an hilarious one too - scheduled the performance, rehearsed in secret and, right on the deadline, began his play before the Emperor and the highest level of the court.
It was August 25th. Genesius played his part to a crowd that giggled in anticipation of a comedic climax to a cleverly enacted tale. As he poured a pitcher of water over his head... he stopped the show. He confessed that he had, just then, been converted. That his eyes had been opened and that the pious nature he was ridiculing, he would from that moment forward take as his true calling.
The Emperor, after an odd moment, laughed outrageously. The court, of course, followed suit. Genesius stopped them. He declared again, and now no one could mistake it for comedy, that he had indeed been converted before their eyes. That he was no longer a pagan, like the rest of them, that he had been saved by baptism and belief in a life everlasting and in the one god. With tears pouring down his face he named his savior - even knowing what it would cost him.
Diocletian stopped laughing. He turned Genesius over to Plautian, then head of the senate. Plautian, once a friend, personally tortured Genesius, in an effort to get him to make a sacrifice to the roman gods - thus redeeming himself to Diocletian and the state.
Genesius was stretched on the rack, burned with torches and, after days of not complying with the Emperor's demands, he was beheaded.
Some will say that this is a case of the part taking over the actor. The more seasoned among us will realize the many times that a role has opened our eyes to aspects of ourselves of which we were only dimly aware. I cannot say what drove that actor to his life changing declaration. I cannot guess at whether it was real or imagined. I do know that Genesius played his part. I pray that someday, something will be as clear, personal and as undeniable for me. For it is the playing of our parts that makes us actors. The turning stomachs, teary eyes and heartfelt laughter that wells up into the personas we portray that intertwines our lives into something more than others know.
There is someone somewhere who KNOWS that Genesius was a fool... but that's why that person is not an actors.
I hope you understand why I've told you this story... and why Genesius retains the title: Patron Saint of Actors.
