PALM SUNDAY
| Most Illustrious, Ancient and Venerable Brotherhood and Confraternity of Penitents of the Most Holy Christ of the Crowning with Thorns, Mary Most Holy of Peace in Her Deepest Affliction and Saint John the Baptist. |
Historical Background
The brotherhood has deep historical roots associated with the former Convent of San Agustín. Surviving historical records include a contract for the creation of a sculptural group depicting the Crowning of Christ with Thorns, providing evidence of the city’s early devotion to this scene from the Passion. The brotherhood has preserved this devotion and its artistic and religious heritage through successive periods of its history.
These developments reflect a gradual process of consolidation in which parish life, religious worship and the brotherhood’s public presence have reinforced one another.
Its current canonical seat is the Chapel of the Refuge of Our Lady of the Forsaken (Capilla del Refugio de Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados), at Calle Arcos, 49, 11401 Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz). The chapel remains the focal point of the brotherhood’s religious services and devotional activities. The brotherhood makes its annual penitential procession on Palm Sunday, as part of the Holy Week celebrations in Jerez. Its history also highlights the importance of its principal sacred images and the successive conservation and restoration efforts that have helped preserve its distinctive identity.
Sacred Images and Patron Saints
The image of Santísimo Cristo de la Coronación de Espinas (Most Holy Christ of the Crowning with Thorns) dates from the 17th century. Historical documentation relating to its creation refers to Pedro Grass and Elías Mez. The brotherhood’s principal Marian dedication is María Santísima de la Paz en su Mayor Aflicción (Mary Most Holy of Peace in Her Deepest Affliction). Saint John the Baptist completes the brotherhood’s sacred dedications.
The brotherhood’s full official name is “Muy Ilustre, Antigua y Venerable Hermandad y Cofradía de Nazarenos del Santísimo Cristo de la Coronación de Espinas, María Santísima de la Paz en su Mayor Aflicción y San Juan Bautista”. This title brings together the different devotions that form the basis of the brotherhood’s religious worship and reflect its spiritual identity.
The artists responsible for these sculptures, their dates of creation, historical attributions and subsequent restorations help place them within Jerez’s rich tradition of religious processional sculpture and contribute to their distinctive artistic character. The continued veneration of these sacred images preserves the brotherhood’s collective memory and provides a lasting focus of devotion for its members and devotees throughout the year.
General information
Website: http://coronacionjerez.com/
Pictures / More info (Spanish)
