# Apache Christ > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Apache_Christ > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Apache_Christ.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apache_Christ > Source revision: 1351150237 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|1989 painting by Robert Lentz}} {{use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox artwork | title = Apache Christ | other_language_1 = apa | other_title_1 = Bik’egu'indán | other_language_2 = | other_title_2 = | image = Apache Christ.jpg | image_upright = yes | alt = | caption = | artist = [Robert Lentz](/source/Robert_Lentz) | year = {{start date|1989}} | completion_date = | catalogue = | medium = [Oil on canvas](/source/Oil_on_canvas) | movement = | subject = [Jesus Christ](/source/Jesus_Christ) | height_metric = | width_metric = | length_metric = | diameter_metric = | height_imperial = 8 | width_imperial = 4 | length_imperial = | diameter_imperial = | dimensions = | dimensions_ref = | metric_unit = m | imperial_unit = ft | weight = | designation = | condition = | museum = | city = [Mescalero, New Mexico](/source/Mescalero%2C_New_Mexico), U.S. | coordinates = | owner = [St. Joseph Apache Mission Church](/source/St._Joseph_Apache_Mission_Church) | accession = | preceded_by = | followed_by = | module = | website = }} '''''Apache Christ''''' ([Apache](/source/Apache_language): {{Lang|apa|Bik’egu'indán}}) is a painting [depicting Jesus](/source/Depiction_of_Jesus) as a [Mescalero](/source/Mescalero) holy man. Created in 1989 by American [Franciscan](/source/Franciscans) friar [Robert Lentz](/source/Robert_Lentz), the {{convert|8|ft|adj=on}} [icon](/source/icon) is displayed in the altar of the [St. Joseph Apache Mission Church](/source/St._Joseph_Apache_Mission_Church), a Catholic church in the U.S. state of [New Mexico](/source/New_Mexico) with parishioners who are mostly Mescalero [Apache](/source/Apache). In the painting, Jesus is depicted atop [Sierra Blanca](/source/Sierra_Blanca_(New_Mexico)), a New Mexico mountain range, greeting the rising sun after performing a sacred puberty ritual. Lentz, who is known for his [iconography](/source/iconography) depicting Jesus in different cultural contexts, painted ''Apache Christ'' in 1989 following a conversation with the church's pastor. He met with Mescalero Apache leaders and consulted with Apache [medicine men](/source/medicine_men) for cultural guidance. In preparation for the artwork, he studied Apache rituals and gathered sacred spring water from the summit of Sierra Blanca to use in the mixing of his paints. In 2024, a priest from St. Joseph removed ''Apache Christ'' and other sacred Mescalero art objects from display due to his view that they were [pagan](/source/paganism) imagery. The removal outraged many of the church's parishioners. The painting was soon reinstalled and the priest was replaced. ==Background== The [St. Joseph Apache Mission Church](/source/St._Joseph_Apache_Mission_Church) was built in [Mescalero, New Mexico](/source/Mescalero%2C_New_Mexico), in the early 20th century on the site of a prehistoric ruin of the Jornada [Mogollon culture](/source/Mogollon_culture).{{cite web|url={{NRHP url|id=04001588}}|title=National Register of Historic Places Registration: St. Joseph Apache Mission Church / St. Joseph Apache Mission; LA 20723 |publisher=[National Park Service](/source/National_Park_Service)|first1=Mary M. |last1=Serna |first2=James W. |last2=Steely |date=March 2004 |accessdate=July 28, 2024}} Located within the [Mescalero Apache Reservation](/source/Mescalero_Apache_Reservation), the church administers to the [Chiricahua](/source/Chiricahua) and [Mescalero](/source/Mescalero) [Apache](/source/Apache) people. During the construction of the church in 1920, traditional and sacred Apache spiritual items were placed beneath the cornerstone.{{cite news |last1=Mercer |first1=Dave |title=The 'Apache Christ' is more than art |url=https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/guest-voices/apache-christ-more-art |work=National Catholic Reporter |date=July 24, 2024 |language=en |access-date=August 4, 2024 |archive-date=July 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727174606/https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/guest-voices/apache-christ-more-art |url-status=live }} [Albert Braun](/source/Albert_Braun), a Roman Catholic priest who helped to construct the church, respected the traditions of the Mescalero Apache ministry and did not interfere with their culture.{{cite news |last1=Nelson |first1=Kate |title=Building on Sacred Traditions at St. Joseph Apache Mission |url=https://www.newmexicomagazine.org/blog/post/mescalero-st-joseph-apache-mission-church/ |work=New Mexico Magazine |date=November 9, 2022 |language=en-us}}{{cite news |last1=Bharath |first1=Deepa |date=July 24, 2024 |title=Apache Christ icon controversy sparks debate over Indigenous Catholic faith practices |url=https://apnews.com/article/new-mexico-apache-christ-painting-catholic-controversy-5e8c0331dabb1a80b36b08c7327601f1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240803141845/https://apnews.com/article/new-mexico-apache-christ-painting-catholic-controversy-5e8c0331dabb1a80b36b08c7327601f1 |archive-date=August 3, 2024 |access-date=August 4, 2024 |work=Associated Press |language=en}} Artist [Robert Lentz](/source/Robert_Lentz) studied [icon](/source/icon) painting under [Photis Kontoglou](/source/Photis_Kontoglou) around 1977 at the Holy Transfiguration Monastery in [Brookline, Massachusetts](/source/Brookline%2C_Massachusetts).{{cite news |last1=Zapor |first1=Patricia |title=An Iconic Faith |url=https://sojo.net/magazine/july-2014/iconic-faith |work=Sojourners |date=June 3, 2014 |language=EN}} He became a [Franciscan](/source/Franciscans) friar and created icons depicting Jesus in different cultural contexts, as well as several gay-themed artworks with controversial backstories. ==Conception and execution== thumb|upright=0.7|The altar of the St. Joseph Apache Mission Church in 1975, before the creation of the painting In 1989, Lentz travelled to [Mescalero, New Mexico](/source/Mescalero%2C_New_Mexico), to visit St. Joseph. He discussed the possibility of creating a painting for the church with Father Larry Gosselin, a fellow [Franciscan](/source/Franciscans) who was the church's pastor at the time. Gosselin asked for approval from 15 Mescalero Apache leaders and arranged for Lentz to meet with Apache [medicine men](/source/Medicine_man) for cultural guidance. Initially the medicine men did not approve of the project, but later acquiesced, recommending that Lentz not use anyone from Mescalero as a model for the work. In preparation for creating the painting, Lentz familiarized himself with Apache rituals and made a pilgrimage to the summit of [Sierra Blanca](/source/Sierra_Blanca_(New_Mexico)) where he gathered water from the sacred springs to use for mixing his paint. According to Gosselin, Lentz "poured all of himself into that painting", sprinkling himself with gold dust and forgoing showering so his body oils would help to adhere the gold onto the canvas. He took three months to finish the painting. According to Lentz, the intention of the painting is to show "that people could be Apache and Catholic, and both completely". Lentz gave ''Apache Christ'' to the Mescalero people. When he brought the finished painting to show to Father Gosselin, a nun named Juanita was conversing with some visiting women. As the painting was unveiled, there was a three-minute silence. Sister Juanita later said that they had been in silent awe. ''Apache Christ'' was installed on the wall behind the stone chapel's altar in 1990.{{cite book |last1=Cave |first1=Dorothy |title=God's Warrior: Father Albert Braun, OFM, 1889-1983, Last of the Frontier Priests |date=2011 |publisher=Sunstone Press |isbn=978-0-86534-520-1 |page=501 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OERBzum8eN0C&dq=Bik'egu'%20inda'n&pg=PA501 |language=en}} It received a blessing from Father Gosselin during mass. The mass was paused midway through to allow the painting to receive a traditional blessing with cattail pollen from Mescalero medicine men.{{cite journal |last1=Achenbaum |first1=Andy |last2=Lentz |first2=Robert |title=Two Spiritual Journeys Converged |journal=Generations: Journal of the American Society on Aging |date=2008 |volume=32 |issue=2 |pages=32 |jstor=26555578 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/26555578 |issn=0738-7806}} ==Description== thumb|Interior of the St. Joseph Apache Mission Church ''Apache Christ'' serves as the centerpiece of the St. Joseph Apache Mission Church,{{cite book |last1=Graziano |first1=Frank |title=Historic Churches of New Mexico Today |date=2019 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-066349-0 |pages=177–179 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wzCPDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22apache%20christ%22&pg=PA177 |language=en |access-date=August 4, 2024 |archive-date=August 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240804020734/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Historic_Churches_of_New_Mexico_Today/wzCPDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22apache%20christ%22&pg=PA177&printsec=frontcover |url-status=live }} representing a blending of Christian rites and sacred Apache ceremonies. The [icon painting](/source/icon) [depicts Jesus](/source/Depiction_of_Jesus) as a [Mescalero](/source/Mescalero) [Apache](/source/Apache) medicine man standing on the summit of [Sierra Blanca](/source/Sierra_Blanca_(New_Mexico)) at dawn. In the {{cvt|8|ft|adj=on}} tall painting, he is dressed traditionally, wearing [moccasin](/source/moccasin)s, a [breech cloth](/source/breech_cloth), and a warrior shirt.{{cite book |last1=Fein |first1=Judith |title=Slow Travel New Mexico: Unforgettable Personal Experiences in the Land of Enchantment |date=2024 |publisher=University of New Mexico Press |isbn=978-0-8263-6585-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u8T3EAAAQBAJ&dq=%22apache%20christ%22&pg=PT333 |language=en |access-date=August 4, 2024 |archive-date=August 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240804020731/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Slow_Travel_New_Mexico/u8T3EAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22apache%20christ%22&pg=PT333&printsec=frontcover |url-status=live }} His left hand is raised, the outward-facing palm bearing a sun symbol, while his right hand holds a deer hoof rattle. Before his feet is a basket containing sacred objects, including a grass brush, bags of tobacco, cattail pollen, and an eagle feather. An eagle flying in the background represents the [Holy Spirit](/source/Holy_Spirit_in_Christianity). Greek [Christogram](/source/Christogram)s representing Jesus Christ are depicted in the halo and in the upper corners of the painting. The Apache words ''{{Lang|apa|Bik’egu'indán}}'' ({{Gloss|Giver of Life}}, one of the Apache names for the Creator) are inscribed on the lower border of the painting.{{cite news |last1=Hutchison |first1=Sue |title=The unique culture of St. Joseph's Apache Mission Part 2 |url=https://issuu.com/ruidoso/docs/february_12__2013 |work=Ruidoso Free Press |date=February 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224231844/https://issuu.com/ruidoso/docs/february_12__2013 |archive-date=February 24, 2023 |page=B7 |url-status=dead}} An elaborate frame for the icon was hand-crafted by Roberto Lavadie, a wood sculptor based in New Mexico. In the painting, Jesus is represented greeting the dawn on the fourth morning of the traditional puberty rites for young women who have [come of age](/source/coming_of_age). The deer hoof rattle he holds is used ceremonially during Mescalero puberty rituals. During Christmas, a tepee and [nativity scene](/source/nativity_scene) are erected in the church near the painting. The baby Jesus, strapped to a [cradleboard](/source/cradleboard), is carried to the altar by Mescalero girls who have recently gone through the ceremonial puberty rites. Versions of the ''Apache Christ'' icon have been displayed in other Native churches, including a [Pima](/source/Pima_people) church in Mexico,{{cite journal |last1=Buer |first1=David |title=Christ unites the apaches and the Pimas |journal=St. Anthony Messenger |date=July 2003 |volume=111 |issue=2 |page=5 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/222651974 |language=en |access-date=August 4, 2024 |archive-date=August 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240804020737/https://www.proquest.com/docview/222651974/fulltextPDF/14E6D2C4DE784F62PQ |id={{ProQuest|222651974}} |url-status=live }} an Episcopal church in Salt Lake City, Utah,{{cite news |last1=Foster |first1=Shawn |title=Episcopals Lose Chapel for Indians |work=The Salt Lake Tribune |date=December 16, 1995 |page=C1}} St. Peter's Chapel at the [National Shrine of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha](/source/National_Shrine_of_Saint_Kateri_Tekakwitha),{{cite journal |last1=Hogue |first1=Kellie Jean |title='When Joe and I went to the sacred walk . . . it seemed like you could feel her': Pilgrimage Traditions and Devotion to Saint Kateri Tekakwitha |journal=U.S. Catholic Historian |date=2016 |volume=34 |issue=3 |pages=154 |doi=10.1353/cht.2016.0023}} and in the altar of the former ANAWIM church in Chicago.{{cite thesis |last1=Suzukovich III |first1=Eli |title=The Seen and Unseen: Religion and Identity in the Chicago American Indian Community |url=https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/1081/ |publisher=University of Montana |page=170 |date=2011 |degree=PhD |access-date=August 4, 2024 |archive-date=July 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728030327/https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/1081/ |url-status=live }} ==2024 removal and restoration== thumb|Exterior of the St. Joseph Apache Mission Church Security footage from inside the church shows that on June 26, 2024, Fr. Chudy and other men removed the ''Apache Christ'' icon from display, having deemed it pagan imagery contradictory to Catholicism.{{cite news |title=Apache Christ icon controversy sparks debate over Indigenous Catholic faith practices |url=https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/best-of-the-week/honorable-mention/2024/apache-christ-icon-controversy-sparks-debate-over-indigenous-catholic-faith-practices/ |agency=Associated Press |date=August 2, 2024 |access-date=August 4, 2024 |archive-date=August 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240803064522/https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/best-of-the-week/honorable-mention/2024/apache-christ-icon-controversy-sparks-debate-over-indigenous-catholic-faith-practices/ |url-status=live }} Also removed were baskets and ceramic chalices which were used during the [Eucharist](/source/Eucharist) and had been gifts from the Pueblo community, as well as a painting of a sacred Indigenous dancer by Mescalero artist Gervase Peso. The icon's wooden frame was disassembled and locked in a storage area only accessible by the diocese of Las Cruces.{{cite news |last1=Christian |first1=Gina |title='Apache Christ' icon removed from New Mexico mission, shocking parishioners |url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/apache-christ-icon-removed-new-mexico-mission-shocking-parishioners |work=National Catholic Reporter |date=July 2, 2024 |language=en |access-date=August 4, 2024 |archive-date=July 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705141727/https://www.ncronline.org/news/apache-christ-icon-removed-new-mexico-mission-shocking-parishioners |url-status=live }} The removal of the art occurred under the approval of Bishop [Peter Baldacchino](/source/Peter_Baldacchino). A diocesan risk manager and other men associated with a [spiritual warfare](/source/spiritual_warfare) prayer group were present for the removal. Parishioners initially believed that the art had been stolen. Lentz compared the removal of the icon to a 19th-century ambush of an Indian village by a posse of white men. He wrote that he had given the painting to the Mescalero people and that men from a conservative Catholic organization in a military town 30 miles from Mescalero had been responsible for the removal. He continued: {{blockquote|Roman Catholic clergy have long been known for their arrogance. It is no mystery that so many have perished during upheavals and revolutions in Catholic countries. As I watch the present scandal unfold, I am reminded of the old expression, "And [Jesus wept](/source/Jesus_wept)."
Shame on this priest. Shame on the white men who sneaked with him onto the reservation that night. Shame on the bishop who is conveniently away from his flock—unavailable, even in this age of instant communication!}} After the incident gained widespread media attention, the diocese returned the art, which was reinstalled. Bishop Baldacchino replaced the priest with another and met with the [parish council](/source/Pastoral_council). A member of the parish council indicated Baldacchino "seemed more concerned about the icon being 'hastily' reinstalled rather than acknowledging the harm or offering an apology". The removal touched off a debate within the Catholic Church regarding [inculturation](/source/inculturation) and the melding of Apache and Catholic traditions. ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[https://trinitystores.com/collections/apache-christ-rlapc Apache Christ] at Trinity Stores *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4W9-uJuko70 Featured Icons - Apache Christ], video of Robert Lentz {{Apache people|state=collapsed}} Category:1989 paintings Category:2024 controversies in the United States Category:Paintings of Jesus Category:Iconography of Jesus Category:Mescalero Apache Category:Religious controversies in painting Category:Catholicism-related controversies Category:Diocese of Las Cruces Category:Eagles in art Category:Paintings of Native Americans Category:Christianity and paganism Category:Catholicism and race Category:Native American history of New Mexico Category:Multiculturalism and Christianity Category:Religious controversies in the United States Category:Catholic Church in New Mexico Category:Native American Christianity --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Apache Christ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apache_Christ) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apache_Christ?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.