Devotion to the Crucified on Holy Thursday in Marbella

Holy Thursday in Marbella was filled with religious events, where 3 brotherhoods paraded their Sacred Holders with the departure of 6 thrones and processions that gathered more than 1,400 people through the city center streets, including bearers, penitents, and musicians. The day went by without any significant weather incidents.

The first to parade was the Brotherhood of Nazarenes and Salesian Confraternities of the Worship and Procession of the Most Holy Christ of the Exaltation, Most Holy Calvary, and Saint John the Evangelist, which started at 18:00 from the Calvary chapel, with a procession made up of two thrones and about 700 participants.

The guiding cross and the poles took over the environment of the Calvary chapel with the cavalry marches at a slow pace from the Mounted Regiment number 3 of Ceuta, which started the procession with 47 legionnaires. It was followed by the Band of trumpets and drums Suspiros de Pasión, from Alameda, which played the march ‘Requiem' to commence the procession of the Most Holy Christ of the Exaltation, who left the Holy Temple after 18:00 carried by 110 bearers and accompanied by 90 penitents wrapped in black tunics with black, turquoise, and maroon belts, and burgundy hoods.

Moments later, the first bell tolls announced the departure of Most Holy Mary of Calvary, who descended past 18:25 from the chapel surroundings in a colossal manner, carried by a hundred bearers. The Virgin's section involved 125 penitents dressed in black tunics with black, turquoise, and maroon belts and turquoise hoods, accompanied by the Band of Music from Pulianas de Granada, which played the Royal March. The first saeta was promptly sung by Fina Mesa to the Virgin in seguidillas and martinete styles.

One of this year's novelties is precisely the Virgin's throne, after being restored and expanded, featuring new palio bars, a new base, two poles, a bell, and a bell arch. The passage of the Sacred Holders by the Official Tribune, in Puente Málaga square, was one of the highlights of the procession, around 21:40. Also noteworthy was the saeta sung by Carlos Brías to Christ from the balconies of the Urban Obal hotel, which sparked applause and ovation from the audience.

Christ of Love

The Holy Thursday continued with the procession of the Real, Ancient, and Most Excellent Brotherhood and Confraternity of Penitents of the Most Holy Christ of Love, Most Holy Mary of Charity and Saint John the Evangelist. The procession moved three thrones through the streets of central Marbella, involving about 600 people.

The Squad and Band of the Brotherhood of Former Legionnaires of Torremolinos opened the procession in Plaza de los Naranjos. After 20:00, a trumpet call announced the departure of the Most Holy Christ of Love from the Santiago chapel, a throne that was carried by 75 bearers to the sound of the National Anthem, and to which the first saeta was sung in the surroundings of Plaza de las Ranas. The procession involved 35 mantillas and 130 penitents wrapped in red velvet tunics, white belts, and white satin hoods.

The legionnaires sang ‘The Groom of Death’ after Christ, to the admiration of devotees, residents, and tourists who crowded Plaza de los Naranjos to watch the Sacred Holders parade, a march they repeated past the wall and down Arte street, around 22:12. This was followed by a display of weapon movements.

Around 20:30, Saint John the Evangelist left the Santiago chapel to the sound of trumpets and drums from the Musical Group of Marbella and the Union Musical Vera Cruz Band from Estepona. The procession was accompanied by 70 penitents, 10 mantillas, and 60 bearers who took the advocation to Plaza de los Naranjos.

The last to parade was Most Holy Mary of Charity, who left the Holy Temple at 20:40 carried by 80 bearers, with musical accompaniment from the cultural musical association ‘La Liga’, from Iznájar, which played the National Anthem. The parade involved the departure of a hundred penitents dressed in white sargas, red belts, and red velvet hoods.

Holy Christ of Vera Cruz

To conclude the day, the Brotherhood of the Holy Christ of Vera Cruz, Holy Christ Tied to the Column, and Most Holy Virgin Mary White celebrated its third Holy Thursday vigil, with which the Most Holy Christ of Vera Cruz was processed in absolute silence. The throne was moved through the streets of the old town by 42 bearers and was accompanied by 100 penitents and the Chapel Music Band of Málaga. The procession started at 23:30 from the Holy Christ chapel, heading to the Church of Our Lady of the Incarnation for the Station of Penitence, involving about 140 people.