History
Although the exact date of foundation of the confraternity is unknown, its origin possibly dates back to the 16th century. The present-day confraternity is the result of the union of several brotherhoods during the 17th century that were based in the parish church of Santa María de la Encarnación, such as the old Brotherhood of San Blas and the Brotherhood of Jesús Nazareno. They were later joined by the Brotherhood of La Cofradía del Resucitado and the Brotherhood of El Santo Entierro.
There is evidence of a document, dated 7th March 1690, which refers to the celebration on the morning of Good Friday of the ceremony known as El Paso. In the Census of Brotherhoods commissioned by the Council of Castile in 1770, and developed in 1771, the Brotherhood of Jesús Nazareno and the Brotherhood of El Señor San Blas appears. In the same line, another historical document dated 18 February 1791, certifies the existence of the Brotherhood of Jesús Nazareno in the Church of Santa María. The Brotherhood acquired its current name in the 19th century.
The headquarters of the Brotherhood is the parish church of Santa María de la Encarnación, which is located in Plaza de Santa María in Jerez de los Caballeros. This church has the singularity of being one of the oldest Christian temples in Spain. This is proved by a Visigothic column that appeared in the church, which dates it to the 24th of December in the year 556 of Jesus Christ.
Nazarenes wear purple tunics, purple conical catholic hood and cape; yellow belt with two purple stripes, golden ribbon and emblem with the image of Nuestro Padre Jesús[1] on the chest and cape, throughout the route. The person who bring the processional figure, does not wear a cape or a conical catholic hood.
The Escolta Romana (Roman Guard) is a characteristic element of this Brotherhood, but the exact date of its creation is unknown. The Statutes by which we have proof of its existence date back to 1806. In the extension of those, made in 1862 will be where the Roman Guard is mentioned as another component of the Brotherhood and with a long tradition in it.
It is difficult to understand the Brotherhood without La Escolta. It is the oldest of the Guards of Jerez de los Caballeros. It begins its functions in the early hours of Good Friday morning with its parade recalling the Sermón de Pregones and the subsequent departure of Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno.
This Guard is made up of 13 Romans, in which one carries the script, another the drum and another acts as the captain. They always march in front of the Paso.
On the other hand, mention must be made of the Musical Association of Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno. This Association was founded in 1989, made up mostly of young members, and it was in that year that it first marched in a procession, within its Brotherhood. At first it was a band and in 2006 it became a Musical Association. Little by little it has been incorporating new instruments to improve its sound and interpretative quality, such as pipes, euphoniums, cornet groups, trombones, trumpets, etc…
The organization itself is the responsibility of the more experienced members, although currently, the group has more than 60 musicians divided into various sections.
With more than 30 years of experience, we can say that it is one of the most recognized in Extremadura.
Titulars
Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno
Possibly from the first half of the 18th century. In 1986 the image of Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno was completely restored, except for the head. In 2008, in a first phase, the images of two Romans of El Paso were made and in 2009 the three remaining figures that form the mystery; two Romans and the Cirineo[2]. The author of these images is Ventura Gómez Rodríguez.
La Virgen de La Encarnación
Designed by León Ortega in 1965, this carving replaced the one that disappeared in the fire of 1965. This image was recently restored by Francisco Pérez Vargas in 2018.
El Descendimiento[3]
The current sculptural ensemble was made by León Ortega and marched in procession for the first time in 1959. In 2006 the secondary images were restored, in 2012 the image of Christ was restored by Jesús Salvador Pastelero from Jerez and finally in 2017 the image of the Virgen de las Lágrimas was restored by Francisco Pérez Vargas.
El Santo Entierro[4]
The date and author of the Cristo Yacente[5] are unknown. This image was restored by Tomás Crespo Pitel from Jerez. The current stretcher was made by Ángel de la Feria between 2001 and 2003.
La Muerte Pelá
A symbolic procession in which a skeleton appears in a thinking attitude seated on the world globe, a representation which according to different theories could refer to death meditating on the world, or to the power of Christ’s death over everything. It is known that there is another one of similar characteristics in the city of Seville.
After a fire in 1965, it was not carried for several years until it was brought back to life in 1991 until the present day. This procession image was restored in 2012.
San Juan
This carving corresponds to the image of San Juan, which is carried on stretchers by four young men (costaleros[6]). No further information is known about it.
La Magdalena
Like the image of San Juan, the only thing known about it is that it is carried on stretchers by four young men (costaleros).
Events and celebrations
The Station of Penance takes place on Good Friday.The programme of which begins with the Sermón de Pregones at 6:20 a.m. in the Church of Santa María de la Encarnación. This is followed by the processional departure of the Brotherhood of Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno at around 06:45 a.m. where the traditional Ceremonia del Encuentro[7] takes place in the Plaza de España.
At mid-morning, the official procession of Sagrarios begins together with the rest of the Brotherhoods to culminate with the official procession of the Santo Entierro that same afternoon. Finally, around 23.00 p.m. the procession of La Soledad will be the procession in charge of closing Good Friday.
It is also worth mentioning the Besapié [8] worship held every year on the first Friday in March, as well as the Quinario which, coinciding with the feast of the Exaltación de la Santa Cruz, is held in September.
Brotherhood House .
Currently under construction (2022).
[1] Our Father Jesus
[2] Person who carry out the cross during the procession
[3] The Descent of Christ from the Cross
[4] The Holy Burial
[5] Image of Christ in the cross
[6] People who carry out the float during the procession
[7] Ceremony of the Encounter between Christ and Virign Mary
[8] Foot-kissing ceremony
