During the initial Council of Nicaea, which took place between May 20 and June 19, 325, in the city of Nicaea in the Roman Empire (now Turkey), decisions were made regarding the celebration of Easter. It was agreed that Easter Sunday would be observed on the Sunday following the first full moon after the March equinox, in order to avoid coinciding with the Jewish celebration. This practice, established in the early days of spring, is the reason why the date of Easter changes annually. It is essential to note that this festivity is distinct from Carnival, a common misconception among many individuals.
The tradition of Holy Week processions in the streets of Spain dates back to the 15th century and reached its peak in the 17th century. Initially, during the Middle Ages, the Passion of Christ was represented through theatrical performances in church porches. Over time, these theatrical presentations, which were part of liturgical ceremonies, gradually transitioned from live actors to religious images.
The first disciplined procession in Spain, representing the Passion of Christ through the streets, was instituted by the Dominican San Vicente Ferrer in Medina del Campo, within the Villa de las Ferias. In Cartagena, the first procession with images in Spain, accompanied by the Marraja brotherhood, departed from the church of Santa María de Gracia in 1663.
THE ORIGINS OF CELEBRATIONS IN THE CANARY ISLANDS TRACE BACK TO LA LAGUNA
The origins of the Holy Week celebrations in the Canary Islands can be traced back to San Cristóbal de La Laguna, where the initial settlers from Castile, Andalusia, and Portugal, who were familiar with these Catholic liturgical traditions, introduced the celebrations. The first celebration of the Corpus festival on the islands occurred in this city, when it was still a military outpost, towards the end of the 15th century. The first brotherhood to hold processions in the streets of La Laguna was the Brotherhood of Blood, established after the conquest of Tenerife. It was based in the former Convent of the Holy Spirit (previously the church of San Agustín, which was lost in a fire in 1964).
Prior to the creation of the Bishopric of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Holy Week processions were not organised as they are today. The establishment of the Diocese, as per Rodríguez Moure, was attributed to the Apostolic Bull issued by Pope Pius VII in Santa María La Mayor on February 1, 1818, and the Royal Auxiliary Decree of King Ferdinand VII on August 27, 1819. This new Diocese separated from the Canary Islands Diocese and comprises the islands of Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro. The Episcopal seat is located in the Church of Los Remedios, elevated to the status of a Cathedral. The activities of this Diocese were officially reinstated on February 27, 1877, by Pontiff Pius IX, sanctioned by King Alfonso XII in Valencia.
Centuries before the reinstatement of the Bishopric of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, the religious event “Del Paso” was commemorated in Plaza del Adelantado, reenacting the encounter of Jesus Christ with his Mother on Calle de La Amargura. This event drew attendees not only from La Laguna but also from other parts of the island. The religious images, owned by the Salazar family and kept at the Nazareno chapel in the Convent of San Agustín, included depictions of Jesus, the Holy Virgin, Saint John the Evangelist, and Veronica, all equipped with joints to facilitate movements.
THE REENACTMENT OF JESUS’ MEETING WITH HIS MOTHER IN PLAZA DEL ADELANTADO
According to historians, on the afternoon of Holy Wednesday, a procession departed from the Augustinian church featuring the aforementioned religious images and numerous brothers clad in purple tunics with elaborate hats concealing their faces. Due to the weight of the Jesus carving, several brothers carried it on their shoulders as the procession split into two directions: Christ proceeded towards Pino Street to Plaza del Adelantado, whilst Veronica, Saint John the Evangelist, and the Sorrowful, alongside Franciscan and Dominican communities and the clergy of La Concepción, advanced towards the square along Calle del Agua.
A narrator stationed at the portico of the Cabildo provided explanations of “El Paso” as the figure of Jesus slowly made its way through the Carnicería alley amidst the crowd. Veronica moved forward to meet the Nazarene, tenderly caressing his face. At that moment, she opened her arms, revealing a canvas displaying three phases of Jesus Christ’s face. The encounter culminated with all four images converging in the centre of the square before returning to the entrance of the Convent of Santa Catalina. Subsequently, they dispersed to their designated locations.
A GILDED AGE OF PROCESSIONS DURING THE 17TH CENTURY
While brotherhoods and fraternities initially emerged in all parishes and convents of the city, details about the early Holy Week processions are scarce. As noted by historian Miguel Tarquis in his 1960 publication, the 17th century marked the peak of the impressive processions in La Laguna. Some of the first processions documented include La del Cristo de Burgos, La Piedad, and El Señor de la Columna, among others. The Christ of Burgos stands out as a distinctive image among the various Christs in La Laguna. On July 13, 1680, the Cinta brotherhood from the former San Agustín church entered into a contract with the sculptor Lázaro González de Ocampo to create an image inspired by an existing painting housed in the Cathedral of La Laguna.
The wood used for sculpting the image was generously donated by Don Tomás de Nava y Grimón, the Marquis of Villanueva del Prado. All the brothers made contributions towards this endeavour. The image was polychromed by Cristóbal Hernández de Quintana in February 1681, and on Passion Sunday, March 23, it was solemnly blessed by the vicar general, Don Andrés Romero Suárez y Calderín.
Following the restoration of the Diocese, the Cathedral became an integral part of the different processional routes, with parishes extending their penitential rituals beyond their local boundaries. Presently, all the Passion brotherhoods of Holy Week in La Laguna partake in penance rituals at the Cathedral throughout the Holy Week days. Previously, the sole brotherhood that conducted processions beyond the confines of the San Agustín convent, where it originated, was La Sangre, whose penitential march dates back to the 16th century.
