Epitaph for the Prophet Ilya - The Vershalin Mystery

“The epitaph for the Prophet Ilya is a theatrical mystery built of image, silence and singing. Instead of a classic narrative, he guides the viewer through successive stations — like a ritual of memory, in which every song, every word and every gesture has its meaning. The basis of the performance are authentic funeral songs of Podlasie performed in the traditional technique of white singing. They are accompanied by archaic instruments and strict scenography inspired by the landscape of Vershalin and the symbolism of Orthodoxy. They do not recreate history — they build a space in which the past meets the present.

Historical and symbolic figures appear on the stage: the Prophet Ilya, the Vershalin Virgin Mary, Luciper, peasants, musicians and the Voice leading the viewer through the next stages of the mystery. Each represents not only a specific role, but also a specific dimension of human experience—faith, doubt, memory, death, and hope.

The performance lasts about ninety minutes and is performed without interruption. He does not expect the viewer to know the story of Verszalin. It invites you to live an experience in which emotions precede words and silence becomes as important as music.

WHY NOW? Although inspired by a story from almost a hundred years ago, the show tells about phenomena that remain extremely current. It is a story about the need for authority, the creation of spiritual, political and ideological leaders, and the responsibility of the community for its own choices. It is also a story about how beliefs are born, how myths arise and how thin the line between truth, need and collective imagination can be.