The release of Tiger King fortuitously corresponded with the first wave of the coronavirus lockdown; millions of Americans found themselves trapped inside, bingeing the series as a strange proxy for their inability to leave the house.
Like so many people, I watched the phenomenon that is Tiger King at a time when it was a bizarre but oddly welcome respite from the monotony of quarantine. Dr. Politano has so adeptly contextualized the popularity of this show, not only in our current day but as a continuation of a tradition centuries old. While her treatment draws upon parallels from within the Western Church, there are interesting traditions in the Eastern Church which also inform the topic. There is a category of Saint in the East called the "Fool for Christ." In essence, a person whose behavior was in life quite non-conventional, if not even at times anti-social, but is then canonized and celebrated for it posthumously. I would present as an example Blessed Xenia, Fool for Christ, of St. Petersburg, who gave away all of her possessions and lived as a transient (the religious term is mendicant). And curiously, she spent the last 45 years of life wearing her late husband's military uniform. I am not at all suggesting that she was expressing anything along the lines of gender dysphoria, but it is notable that the Eastern Church finds a way to honor her non-conventional behavior. Blessed Xenia, Fool for Christ, pray for us!
We will have to add the Saint as Holy Fool in the East vs. West to our list of topics to podcast...Also, I'm sad that I missed my opportunity to commemorate St Xenia's feast day, one week ago today. Ah well, next year.
Like so many people, I watched the phenomenon that is Tiger King at a time when it was a bizarre but oddly welcome respite from the monotony of quarantine. Dr. Politano has so adeptly contextualized the popularity of this show, not only in our current day but as a continuation of a tradition centuries old. While her treatment draws upon parallels from within the Western Church, there are interesting traditions in the Eastern Church which also inform the topic. There is a category of Saint in the East called the "Fool for Christ." In essence, a person whose behavior was in life quite non-conventional, if not even at times anti-social, but is then canonized and celebrated for it posthumously. I would present as an example Blessed Xenia, Fool for Christ, of St. Petersburg, who gave away all of her possessions and lived as a transient (the religious term is mendicant). And curiously, she spent the last 45 years of life wearing her late husband's military uniform. I am not at all suggesting that she was expressing anything along the lines of gender dysphoria, but it is notable that the Eastern Church finds a way to honor her non-conventional behavior. Blessed Xenia, Fool for Christ, pray for us!
We will have to add the Saint as Holy Fool in the East vs. West to our list of topics to podcast...Also, I'm sad that I missed my opportunity to commemorate St Xenia's feast day, one week ago today. Ah well, next year.
Joy of joys, Dr. Politano! We have not missed the Feast Day! It is February 6 on the Saint's own Russian Calendar.