La Laguna lived yesterday the big day of its emblematic festivities in honor of the Holy Christ lagoonwhich, after two years of restrictions due to the pandemic, recovered the streets with full normality, residents and visitors being able to meet again with their Christ.
The festive day started at dawn with the ringing of the bells in the temples of the city and the flowered reveille, in charge of the Musical Group of the Holy Christ, touring the town. At 10:00 a.m., the civic-military procession set off, with the Royal Banner, carried by the councilor from La Laguna, Santiago Pérez, from the Town Hall to the Cathedral, with the assistance of the leading civil, military and consular authorities, such as the President of the Government of Canarias, Ángel Víctor Torres, who this year held the official representation of His Majesty the King; the president of the Parliament of the Canary Islands, Gustavo Matos; the sub-delegate of the Government, Jesús Javier Plata; the president of the Cabildo de Tenerife, Pedro Martín; the Mayor of La Laguna, Luis Yeray Gutierrezand the chief lieutenant general of the Canary Islands Command, Alejandro Escámez, among others.
Also participating, as every year and among other units, was an Honors Unit of the 93 Field Artillery Regiment, heirs to the traditions of the Tenerife Mountain Battery, which went to the Melilla campaign in 1921 and which in 2022 100 years have passed since his return to the Island without any casualties.
Upon his arrival at the Plaza de la Catedral, the President of the Government of the Canary Islands was received. The oldest slave of the Santísimo Cristo de La Laguna, Francisco Doblas, presented him with the silver cane of slavery. Torres was received by the Bishop of the Diocese of Nivariense, Bernardo Álvarez, giving way to the Eucharist.
According to the Bishopric, this year the preaching on this great day was carried out by the Archbishop of Urgell and Co-Prince of the Principality of Andorra, Joan Enric Vives, who emphasized the value of commitment and the hope that emanates from Christ: “When we look at this beautiful image, we realize the great love of God. The figure of the crucified is not an invitation to resignation. In Christ we discover a new dimension of pain, a new hope. We saw it during the pandemic, in the midst of the suffering was the work of so many health workers and law enforcement, the fraternal help to our neighbors, etc. “
At another point in his homily, the Archbishop of Urgell referred to the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis and many other aspects that require a strong commitment on the part of all: “Let us work together. For the common good we must be united. In La Palma we have verified it. How much solidarity. Let us ask God that this generosity continue.” Before finishing, Vives gave thanks for the work of Caritas, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary. The Eucharist concluded with the blessing of the Lord imparted by the bishop and, later, the procession to return the image to its royal sanctuary began.
“Sense”
Luis Yeray Gutiérrez yesterday congratulated all the lagoon men and women for the reunion in the public spaces of the citizens with their most beloved tradition: “This is the most important day for this municipality.” A day “charged with identity, love and meaning”, while he spoke of “mixed feelings”, mixing “the happiness of meeting again and also with the memory of the people who are no longer with us”.
Ángel Víctor Torres said he felt “honored” to hold the representation of the Royal House on this “big day, not only for La Laguna and Tenerife, but for the eight islands.”
Likewise, Pedro Martín stressed the exceptional nature of the day: “This is an important day, because it is not only about recovering normality, it is also about living a special day in La Laguna”.
“As a lagoon resident, it is an emotional day, a day of memories for those of us who have lived this festival since we were little. And it is a day to value the return to normality,” said Gustavo Matos.
In the afternoon
The festive day continued in the afternoon with the field mass in the atrium that precedes the royal sanctuary, presided over by its rector, Víctor Manuel Álvarez. The musical liturgical accompaniment was provided by the Achamán Musical Group, Jovenes Sabandeños. At its end, the procession of the venerated image was held through the main streets of the center, visiting the convents of the Poor Clare and Catalina nuns, returning to the Plaza del Cristo, where, around midnight, it was possible to enjoy the traditional exhibition of the Cliff Fires.
