A penitent Marbella venerates the Nazarene on Holy Wednesday

The Royal, Illustrious, Venerable and Ancient Sacramental Brotherhood of Our Father Jesus Nazarene, Most Holy Mary of Greatest Sorrow and Holy Sepulchre has paraded its Sacred Titles on the night of this Holy Wednesday, in a day that paid homage to the victims of last October's Dana in Valencia and had to shorten the route and change the itinerary due to the threat of rain, with a processional parade that featured the departure of two thrones and the participation of over a thousand people, as well as a large group of devotees who followed Christ.

The surprises brought by the rain in recent days during Holy Week in Marbella continued this day, which did not prevent faithful, residents, and tourists from taking to the streets to enjoy a religious parade that dyed the center of Marbella purple.

The Band of trumpets and drums with a squad of pioneers and banners from the Royal Brotherhood of Our Father Jesus Nazarene of Alhaurín el Grande began the processional march at 8:30 PM, with young people maneuvering with their rifles, leading to the guiding Cross of Christ. The section of Our Father Jesus Nazarene consisted of 225 Nazarenes covered with purple tunics and gold sashes, along with 90 mantillas. A nursery of children opened the processional procession forming lines.

Half an hour later, the Band of trumpets and drums from the Rescue of Torredonjimeno in Jaén played the National Anthem and the Anthem of Valencia to pay homage to the victims of the Dana last October, leading to the departure of Our Father Jesus Nazarene, who left on the shoulders of 110 bearers from the Church of Our Lady of the Incarnation just after 8:58 PM. Behind Christ, a group of penitents joined the procession in the Church Square, which expanded as the religious march paraded through the downtown streets.

Trini Herrera lives in a town in the province of Barcelona, Catalonia, and attends for the first time as a devotee behind the Nazarene, after declaring herself a devotee of Christ of Great Power and the Virgin of Carmen. “I come to give thanks for what I have and to pray for a family member whom I love dearly,” she exclaimed, noting that Holy Week is not experienced in Andalusia as it is in the north: “Differences, all you can imagine,” she emphasized.

In the Church Square, an act took place in recognition of the victims of the Dana in Valencia, with the imposition of ribbons with the flag of Valencia by the elder sister of the Brotherhood of Solitude, Isabel Mata, on behalf of her husband on the throne of the Nazarene and the Councilor for Parks and Gardens of the Marbella City Council, Diego López, on that of the Virgin. The raising of the invocation of Jesus was carried out by the head of Civil Protection, Javier Flores, and that of the Greater Pain by the firefighter and brother of the Brotherhood, Manuel Cecilla.

Half an hour later, the Band ‘Los Moraos’ from Alhaurín el Grande announced the departure of Most Holy Mary of Greatest Sorrow, playing the National Anthem. The invocation was carried by 110 throne bearers - including the Councilor for Citizen Security of the City Council, José Eduardo Díaz -, accompanied by a section of 50 Nazarenes covered with blue tunics and sashes, faraonas, and white gloves. The marked step of 40 mantillas continued the throne down Trinidad Street to shouts of "Long live the beautiful Virgin!".

One of the most special moments of the processional parade was the passage of Our Father Jesus Nazarene through Arte Street, with the traditional stop at the bronze statue on the road in honor of the Sacred Title, which generated the emotion of the brotherhood members and the applause and ovation of the attending public after a turn of the throne to place both images face to face. Subsequently, the parade descended to the Official Tribune on Málaga Bridge, where the request for the Venia to the city authorities took place.

The shortening of the route made the Nazarene arrive at the Holy Temple at 11:30 PM, waiting in the Church Square of the Incarnation for the arrival of the Virgin to give rise to the enclosure, whose throne bearers skillfully navigated the narrowness of Carmen Street due to the changed itinerary, shortened by the threat of rain. In the public space, the meeting of thrones took place, where they were raised and danced around at 12:00 AM.