The Riogordo Pass this Easter: 600 residents recreate the life, passion, and death of Jesus

The Paso de Riogordo is one of the most characteristic and well-known religious plays in Spain, performed since 1951 on Good Friday and Holy Saturday. The performance takes place over approximately three hours in a natural setting. It features four porticos, a river, a flock of sheep, a bridge, a well, and an olive grove, among other elements and settings.

The president of the Association of Municipalities of the Costa del Sol Axarquía, Jorge Martín; the mayor of Riogordo, Antonio Alés; and the deputy mayor and provincial deputy, Sagrario Molina have presented the new edition which will take place on Good Friday and Holy Saturday starting at 5 PM at El Calvario. This venue covers more than 8,000 square meters outdoors and has a capacity for 5,000 seated people.

"El Paso de Riogordo is a demonstration of the uniqueness of the Holy Week in Axarquía. It shows the involvement of its residents in keeping the traditions alive. In this case, more than 600 people participate in this reenactment of the life, passion, and death of Jesus Christ," Martín began his speech. "They have masterfully preserved this historical, cultural, and religious legacy that has become one of the chosen places to experience Holy Week in the province of Málaga. It also serves as an additional attraction for visitors during these festive days," added the president of the regional institution.

"In Riogordo, Holy Week is already in the air. The different brotherhoods prepare their paraphernalia so everything looks radiant in the processional parades. Details are being finalized at the El Calvario venue so that the spectator can be immersed in the era being represented. The actors' costumes are being checked to ensure everything is impeccable, and the palms to be carried by the apostles have already arrived," advanced Sagrario Molina, who is also the treasurer of the Organizing Committee. She also explained that this year's poster is by Antonio Jesús Navarro, depicting the scene of the second fall on the street of La Amargura.

17 scenes

The event consists of 17 scenes: the sacrifice of Isaac, Jesus's encounter with the Samaritan woman, the Sermon on the Mount and the selection of the apostles, Mary Magdalene's repentance, Peter named the first pope, healing of a blind man, triumphant entry into Jerusalem, Jesus bids farewell to his mother, Last Supper, Judas betrays his master, prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane and arrest, at the Sanhedrin tribunal, Peter's denials, Judas's repentance and death, trials before Herod and Pilate, street of La Amargura, and Jesus dies on the Cross.

The mayor has thanked the work of the Organizing Committee, especially its president Emilio Sánchez. He explained that El Paso dates back to 1951, and now about 200 locals, including myself and one of my sons, are involved, playing the first scene, 'The Sacrifice of Isaac'. My son plays the role of Isaac, and I play Abraham.

The town of Riogordo transforms into a theater studio where we become spontaneous actors, reminiscing the fundamental pillar of the New Covenant, embodying the traditional figures of the life, passion, and death of Jesus Christ. Most Riogordo families are involved, either acting or preparing the sets and costumes. In 1996, it was declared a National Tourist Interest Festival and a year later, a National Tourist Interest of Andalusia. It is also declared a Provincial Tourist Singularity Festival by the Junta de Andalucía (2004) and Axárquica Entity of Honor (1996), among other recognitions.

"El Paso de Riogordo is now internationally known for the excellent dramatic realism of its scenes, to the extent that it has become a benchmark for sacred representation worldwide," the mayor highlighted, noting that "it is possibly the most important scenic representation of the public life, passion, and death of Jesus Christ in Spain".

The deputy mayor of Riogordo has taken the opportunity to invite all people from Málaga, Andalusia, and other visitors to enjoy Holy Week and El Paso. "Families from different parts of Spain, attracted by the Holy Week in Málaga, make a stop in Riogordo because for many media outlets it is one of the best religious plays in Europe, undoubtedly one of the most emotive," Molina highlighted.