By Karen Vance
Enquirer contributor

In 1918, America was involved in World War I, and one Cincinnati church decided to offer a special prayer for the safety of the members of its congregation in the armed services.

Now, with the country on the brink of war with Iraq, that special prayer, performances of a passion play, continues with special meaning.

"Prayer comes in a lot of different forms, and that's what this play is for us, a prayer for the men and women of the armed services," said Judy Hughes, producer of the St. John Passion play. "We're so passionate about it this year. It takes the play back to its roots."

The tradition of yearly passion plays began at St. John the Baptist Church in Over-the-Rhine when the Rev. Richard Wurth remembered stories of peasants in Bavaria who put on a Passion Play to protect themselves from the Black Death in the 17th century.

He produced Veronica's Veil, a religious play about the passion and death of Christ. The play has been produced annually ever since, even after the closing of St. John the Baptist in 1969, said Hughes, who has been a part of the production for 40 years, since she was a freshman in high school.

"A small group of people believed in the mission and kept it alive," Hughes said. "The production takes the work of 125 volunteers, and we all believe in the message."

This year St. Augustine Church, 1839 Euclid Ave., Covington, will host performances at 2 p.m. on March 9, 16 and 23. Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Church will host performances at 2 p.m. March 30 and at 2 and 6:30 p.m. on April 6 and 13.

Randy Marksberry, 54, will portray Jesus in the production for his ninth year. He saw the play in 1985 and decided to participate.

"I saw it and was deeply moved," he said. "I really felt a calling to be in it. I felt it was what God wanted me to do."

The play is free and open to the public, but donations are accepted. Proceeds, including canned food donations, from the first performance Sunday will benefit the Drop-Inn Center Shelter House in Over-the-Rhine.

Reservations for all other performances are required and can be made by calling (859) 392-0129. For more information, visit www.stjohnpassionplay.org.

Orthodox observe Lent

More than 250 million Orthodox Christians will begin Lent on "Clean Monday" this week. It concludes on April 18. The period of prayer and fasting from meat, fish and dairy products is followed by Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday, then Holy Week.

Then on April 27, Orthodox Christians will celebrate the holiest day of the religious year observed in the Julian calendar with Pascha, or Easter.

Father Irenaeus Cox, associate pastor of Holy Trinity-St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 7000 Winton Road, said the strict fasting is an important part of the observance to provide cleansing.

Throughout Lent, Holy Trinity-St. Nicholas will observe two services each week, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts on Wednesdays and the Salutations to the Virgin Mary on Fridays.

Religion news can be e-mailed to kvance@fuse.net or faxed to 755-4150.