Sicily - April 2017
During the Easter Holy Week 2017 (12-17 April), we spent 5 days in Sicily participating to some beautiful Easter processions.
Thursday 13 - Ispica (RG) - Santa Maria Maggiore church (I Cavari, red handkerchief)
At 3:00 am crucifixion and deposition of Christ. At 4:00 am opening of the church's doors and run of the devotees to the altar of Christ at Column (U Patri a Culonna). At 11:00 am exposure of the statue of Christ at Column. At 18:00 commencement of the procession with the statue of Christ at Column and meeting with the Madonna brought by Nunziatari.
Friday 14 - Ispica (RG) - SS Annunziata church (I Nunziatari, blue handkerchief)
At 10:00 am the bearers of the vara make a tour of the streets close to the church, bringing the children instead of the statue of Christ. At 11:00 am exposure of the statue of Christ at the Cross (U Patri a Cruci) . At 18:00 there is the procession, but in the afternoon we drove to Enna.
Friday 14 - Enna
On Holy Friday afternoon, the members of all confraternities (more than 2.000 people), dressed with typical hooded suits, gather for the funeral procession that in strictly predetermined order and in absolute silence and mercy, bring the vara with the statues of the Dead Christ and of the Madonna Addolorata, through almost the whole city.
Sunday 16 - Ispica (RG) - SS Annunziata church
At 12:00 exit of Risen Christ and run toward the Madonna. In the evening there is a new procession and fireworks, but we went to Modica.
Sunday 16 - Modica (RG)
This year, for the first time in its long history, it has been organized a night procession starting from the Santa Maria di Betlemme church with the statues of the Madonna Vasa-Vasa and the Christ. The main characteristic of the Modica's procession, is that in some specific points the 2 statues meets each other and the Madonna kisses the Risen Christ. The kiss was given also outside and inside the cathedral of San Giorgio.
Thursday 13 - Ispica (RG) - Santa Maria Maggiore church (I Cavari, red handkerchief)
At 3:00 am crucifixion and deposition of Christ. At 4:00 am opening of the church's doors and run of the devotees to the altar of Christ at Column (U Patri a Culonna). At 11:00 am exposure of the statue of Christ at Column. At 18:00 commencement of the procession with the statue of Christ at Column and meeting with the Madonna brought by Nunziatari.
Friday 14 - Ispica (RG) - SS Annunziata church (I Nunziatari, blue handkerchief)
At 10:00 am the bearers of the vara make a tour of the streets close to the church, bringing the children instead of the statue of Christ. At 11:00 am exposure of the statue of Christ at the Cross (U Patri a Cruci) . At 18:00 there is the procession, but in the afternoon we drove to Enna.
Friday 14 - Enna
On Holy Friday afternoon, the members of all confraternities (more than 2.000 people), dressed with typical hooded suits, gather for the funeral procession that in strictly predetermined order and in absolute silence and mercy, bring the vara with the statues of the Dead Christ and of the Madonna Addolorata, through almost the whole city.
Sunday 16 - Ispica (RG) - SS Annunziata church
At 12:00 exit of Risen Christ and run toward the Madonna. In the evening there is a new procession and fireworks, but we went to Modica.
Sunday 16 - Modica (RG)
This year, for the first time in its long history, it has been organized a night procession starting from the Santa Maria di Betlemme church with the statues of the Madonna Vasa-Vasa and the Christ. The main characteristic of the Modica's procession, is that in some specific points the 2 statues meets each other and the Madonna kisses the Risen Christ. The kiss was given also outside and inside the cathedral of San Giorgio.