Hermandad y Cofradía del Santísimo Cristo del Descendimiento, María Santísima de la Piedad y Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza
(Brotherhood of Holy Christ of Descent, Holy Mary of Mercy and Our Lady of Hope)
This brotherhood recently celebrated its 75th Anniversary, having been established on 28 April 1943 and canonically erected on 28 March 1944. Since then it has grown and become established as the brotherhood offering us the penitence procession we know today. The entity, created thanks to the legacy of all the brothers throughout these years, has and will continue to be formed, above all, on the basis of our devotion to Jesus Christ and his Mother the Virgin Mary, of their faith in God, our Lord and Father, and of charity. For this reason, this year we shall continue to perform the catechesis in honour of Our Lord Jesus Christ Descending from the Holy Cross and his Mother the Holy Virgin Mary in her manifestations of Mercy and Hope before the public who join us through the streets of our Badajoz, full of devotion, faith, humility and, above all, love for our patrons, to fulfil our apostolic duties as Christians.
Headquarters: Church of San Andrés Apóstol.
Pasos (floats)
Set of sculptures of the Descent (the descent of Christ from the cross)Carved by Antonio Castillo Lastrucci in 1944. Consisting of five figures. Saint John and Joseph of Arimathea hold Jesus, while Nicodemus holds him by the arm. Our Holy Mary of Mercy awaits him with open arms. The entire set rests on one of the largest processional platforms in the region. The Rococo-style platform was made of carved wood and gilded by Casa Artes in 1947.
Costaleros (those who carry the paso): 50 (+ 1 stand-in crew)
Capataces (foremen): 7
Asociación de Costaleros y Capataces “San José” (Association of Float Carriers and Foremen “San José”)
Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza (Our Lady of Hope)
Carved by Antonio Castillo Lastrucci in 1945. Highlights include the vents by the Madres Adoratrices nuns and the burgundy velvet mantle embroidered in 1947 and donated by the Marquise de Torres Cabrera.
Costaleros (those who carry the paso): 35 (+1 stand-in)
Capataces (foremen): 6Asociación de Costaleros y Capataces “San José” (Association of Float Carriers and Foremen “San José”)
Number of brothers: 518 (2018)
Honorary Elders: NATIONAL POLICE CORPS
Founded: 28 March 1944
Musical accompaniment
Nuestro Padre Jesús Rescatado, a brass and percussion band from Villanueva de los Infantes (in Ciudad Real) accompanying the figure of Christ and the music band Asociación Músico Cultural accompanying the Holy Virgin.
Itinerary highlights
The start and finish are especially delightful. The procession makes a spectacle of any narrow street on its way through the old town, especially the climb up López Prudencio street, Plaza de España square, Plaza López de Ayala square, Plaza de la Soledad square, up Arias Montano street and the last section through López Prudencio street on the way back.
• Start: Parroquia de San Andrés (20:30)
• Plaza de Cervantes
• c/ López Prudencio
• Plaza de España
• C/ Obispo San Juan de Ribera
• C/ Hernán Cortés
• Plaza López de Ayala
• C/ Francisco Pizarro
• Plaza de la Soledad
• C/ Arias Montano
• C/ Bravo Murillo
• C/ Arco Agüero
• C/ López Prudencio
• Plaza de Cervantes
Hermandad y Cofradía de Penitencia de Nuestro Padre Jesús del Amparo, Santísimo Cristo de la Fe, Nuestra Señora de la Piedad y María Santísima del Mayor Dolor.
(Brotherhood of Penance for Our Father Jesus of Refuge, Holy Christ of Faith, Our Lady of Mercy and Holy Mary of Sorrows)
This is the oldest active brotherhood in our city. It was founded on 16 May 1603 by the Tailors Guild with the purpose of doing away with the bad habit of swearing and taking the name of Our Lord God in vain. Its debut after being reformed was on Good Friday 1939. It graces our city with its longest procession on Holy Wednesday, with four pasos in its repertoire.
Pasos (floats)
Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno del Amparo (Our Father Jesus of Nazareth of Refuge). Anonymous 16-17th century carving. Restored in 1941 by Ramón Cardenal and in 1956 by Santiago Arolo, who changed the position of the head and hands. Baroque-style float acquired from the Hermandad de Montesión brotherhood from Seville in 1956.
Costaleros (those who carry the paso): 45
Capataz (the foreman): Mr Raúl Martín Izquierdo.
Santísimo Cristo de la Fe (Holy Christ of Faith)Anonymous carving, possibly from the 19th century, donated by Mr Luis González Barrientos y Mrs Antonia Cardos Herrera.
Costaleras (those who carry the paso): 40Capataz (the foreman): Mrs Eva María Barrasa Ardila
Nuestra Señora de la Piedad (Our Lady of Mercy)
Anonymous 18th century carving.
Costaleros (those who carry the paso): 24Capataz (the foreman): Mr Emilio Ballester Peinado
María Santísima del Mayor Dolor (Holy Mary of Sorrows – literally “of the Greatest Pain”)Carved by Antonio Castillo Lastrucci (1939). It replaced the previous 17th-century one, which was destroyed in the Spanish Civil War. The platform has gilded vents and was carved in Casa Artes in Badajoz. The mantle and canopy drapery embroidered in white silk were crafted by the Union workshops of Villafranca de los Barros (in Extremadura, Spain). The candelabra are from Orfebrería Ramos goldsmiths.
Costaleros (those who carry the paso): 28
Capataz (the foreman): Mr Joaquín Rodríguez León
Number of brothers: 600
Nazarenos (the penitents): 150
Women wearing the traditional “mantilla” attire: 40
Musical accompaniment
Resucitado, a brass and percussion band from Badajoz, and Guzmán Ricis, a band from Barcarrota (in Extremadura, Spain).
Debuts
The standard (sometimes called bacalao, which means “cod”, due to its shape) was made in the Peña-Luengo workshop in Badajoz. Two candle chimneys used in the Our Lady of Mercy procession were donated by members of the brotherhood.
Itinerary highlights
The start and finish at the Parish of Santo Domingo, especially the start of the Virgin Mary paso, where the costaleros come out on their knees, Plaza de la Soledad square, Vicente Barrantes street, Plaza de España square (official itinerary).
• Start: Parroquia de Santo Domingo (Padres Paúles). 20:30 h
• Plaza de Santo Domingo
• c/ Santo Domingo
• c/ de Santa Ana
• c/ Duque de San Germán
• Plaza de la Soledad
• c/ Francisco Pizarro
• c/ Vicente Barrantes
• Plaza de España, (Carrera Oficial 23:00 horas – Estación de Penitencia en la
S.I. Catedral Metropolitana)
• c/ Obispo San Juan de Ribera
• c/ Hernán Cortés
• c/ de Gabriel
• c/ Santo Domingo
• Plaza de Santo Domingo, a su iglesia.
MADRUGADA JUEVES SANTO – Hermandad y Cofradía de Nuestro Padre Jesús de la Humildad, Nuestro Padre Jesús del Prendimiento y María Santísima de los Dolores
Brotherhood of Our Father Jesus of Humility, Our Father Jesus Captured and Holy Mary of Sorrows)
Their first procession was held on Holy Thursday of 1988, following a promise made by the elder at the time, Mr José Salas Durán, after a period of convalescence. Highlights include the Stations of the Cross performed by the brotherhood in Plaza Alta square, which is well received year after year. The retinue bear the symbols of passion carried on processional cushions. The wrought iron Senatus standard with bells also stands out, made by Mr Enrique Buhigas “Cerrajerito” (the “Little Locksmith”).
Pasos (floats)
Our Father Jesus CapturedAnonymous 17th century carving. Restored by Santiago Arolo, who carved the hair in 1987. The Lord is carried on a platform which used to be of the Virgin of Sorrows, including 4 lanterns crafted by Orfebrería Daniel Santos goldsmiths.
Carriers: 30.
Capataz (the foreman): Mr Manuel García Martínez
Number of brothers: 450
Nazarenos (the penitents): 150
Musical accompaniment
This procession runs without musical accompaniment.
Itinerary highlights
The itinerary of the procession goes through the oldest and most distinctive area of the city, and it is especially worth seeing the part going from Moreno Zancudo street to Plaza Alta square. Its passage through the Arco del Peso and the descent down the narrow street of San Pedro de Alcantara are especially noteworthy. Its arrival at Plaza de la Soledad square, with a shower of petals from the tower, and the climb up Hernán Cortés street to San Juan street, where the procession stops before the entrance to the Metropolitan Cathedral, are also worth mentioning.
• Start: Parroquia de la Concepción. 01:00
• c/ San Juan
• c/ Moreno Zancudo
• Plaza Marín de Rodezno
• Arco del Peso
• Plaza de San José
• c/ San Pedro de Alcántara
• Plaza de la Soledad
• c/ Francisco Pizarro
• Plaza López de Ayala
• c/ Hernán Cortés
• c/ Obispo San Juan de Ribera
• Plaza de España
• c/ Donoso Cortés
• c/ Bravo Murillo
• c/ San Juan
