Support First Things by turning your adblocker off or by making a  donation. Thanks!

harry-potter-god-480x320

A new play written by a Russian Orthodox priest depicts Harry Potter discovering he has been baptized and then battling Voldemort with the help of Saint Cyprianus :

Harry rushes to see Dumbledore, who tells him to find “the one who created everything”, as he’s the only power that can stop Voldemort . . . .

Harry is then teleported to an orthodox church where he learns his parents baptised him into Orthodoxy just before they died.

He heads to Jerusalem to see the descent of the Holy Flame with his new friends – Anastas and Agniya, two Orthodox siblings he met along the way.

The final encounter with Voldemort happens in the Holy Land and with the help of Saint Cyprianus, his patron saint, Harry defeats his enemy.


The treatment of magic in the original Harry Potter series was greeted with skepticism by many Christians, both inside and outside Orthodoxy. The Greek Orthodox Church in Thrace said the books “acquaint people with evil, wizardry, the occult and demonology” and Orthodox writer Galina Voznesenskaya charged the books with “pure Satanism.”

More positive Orthodox assessments of Rowling’s creation came from Andrei Kuraev in his 2003 book  Harry Potter in the Church  and John Granger in  Looking for God in Harry Potter . With this new play, Harry Potter is well on his way from satanist to saint.

00 Days
00 Hours
00 Minutes
00 Seconds
Dear Reader,

Time is short, so I’ll be direct: FIRST THINGS needs you. And we need you by December 31 at 11:59 p.m., when the clock will strike zero. Give now at supportfirstthings.com.

First Things does not hesitate to call out what is bad. Today, there is much to call out. Yet our editors, authors, and readers like you share a greater purpose. And we are guided by a deeper, more enduring hope.

Your gift of $50, $100, or even $250 or more will bring this message of hope to many more people in the new year.

Make your gift now at supportfirstthings.com..

First Things needs you. I’m confident you’ll answer the call.

Make My Gift

Comments are visible to subscribers only. Log in or subscribe to join the conversation.

Tags

Loading...

Filter First Thoughts Posts

Related Articles