Mourning and Silence as the Deceased Passes in Marbella

The city of Marbella was in mourning this Good Friday as the Reclining Christ procession passed through the downtown streets, a procession led by the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre, followed by the parade of Our Lady of Solitude carried by the bearers.

The day of Good Friday saw the departure of two brotherhoods with two floats, preceded by the legionary vigil of the Reclining Christ at the Church of the Incarnation and in the afternoon the request for the city's banner and the subsequent transfer of Christ to the Brotherhood House, where the Sacred Title was enthroned for its Penitential Station.

The first to process was the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre, with a parade that included the departure of the Reclining Christ, carried by 60 throne bearers. The procession started at 9:00 PM from the Brotherhood House, led by the Christ of the Good Death carried by 5 legionnaires, donated to the Church by Carmen Sevilla.

Upon its departure, the War Band of bugles and drums from the IV Tercio Alejandro Farnesio of the Legion played the National Anthem, and once Christ was ready to proceed down Trinidad Street, a bugle call gave way to ‘El novio de la muerte’ to the admiration of devotees and neighbors gathered in the square of the Holy Sepulchre.

Marbella thus dressed in mourning to attend a processional parade composed of 50 penitents in black tunics, wide esparto grass pleats, and black gloves and hoods. This religious event on Good Friday saw a large turnout, and half an hour before the start of the procession, a discreet crowd descended through the adjacent streets leading to the square of the Holy Sepulchre from the northern part of the city.

The square of the Church of the Incarnation, packed with people, eagerly awaited the arrival of Christ to start the procession of his mother, Our Lady of Solitude, which took place just after 9:30 PM. This float, dating from 1916, was carried by 40 costaleros barefoot and keeping rhythm with the horquilla step. The String Quartet of La Soledad began the procession playing ‘Ave María’ by Caccini, followed by several vocal pieces, such as ‘La Vocalise’ by Killa, performed as the Virgin departed.

One of the most special moments of the procession was the ascent of the Reclining Christ up Ancha Street and the descent of the float through Postigo in absolute silence, during which the Legion once again played ‘El novio de la muerte’ once the procession had left the upper neighborhood. Also, the ascent of La Soledad through Virgen de los Dolores Street, where the bearers skillfully navigated the curve connecting to Remedios, and where one of the stewards asked for silence from the patrons of a hospitality establishment.

The musical note was again provided by the String Quartet of La Soledad, around 11:40 PM, as the Virgin passed through Ramón y Cajal Avenue with an 'Ave María', followed by a saeta as the Sacred Title paraded through Puente Málaga square.