HOLY MONDAY
| Ancient and Fervent Brotherhood and Confraternity of Penitents of the Most Holy Christ of the Beam, Our Lord the Saviour and Our Lady of Succour. |
Historical Background
Devotion to Santísimo Cristo de la Viga (Most Holy Christ of the Beam) is closely linked to the former Collegiate Church of Jerez, which became the city’s Cathedral following the establishment of the Diocese of Asidonia-Jerez in 1980. The ancient image of the crucified Christ takes its name from the beam on which it was originally placed in the former church. The brotherhood thus maintains a strong connection with the history of Jerez’s principal place of worship.
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 Jerez Cathedral, at Plaza Encarnación, s/n, 11403 Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz). The Cathedral remains the focal point of the brotherhood’s religious services and devotional activities.
The brotherhood makes its annual penitential procession on Holy Monday, 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. The brotherhood’s history therefore reflects a combination of religious devotion, institutional continuity and adaptation to the changing circumstances of successive historical periods.
Sacred Images and Patron Saints
The image of Santísimo Cristo de la Viga (Most Holy Christ of the Beam) is a Gothic sculpture of the crucified Christ dating from the late 15th or early 16th century. It underwent restoration in 2000. The image of Nuestra Señora del Socorro (Our Lady of Succour) is an ancient Dolorosa, or Sorrowful Virgin, dating from the early 16th century. It is a “candelero” image, with a sculpted head and hands mounted on a wooden framework designed to be dressed in textiles. The image originally belonged to the former Convent of San Agustín, which no longer exists.
The brotherhood’s full official name is “Antigua y Fervorosa Hermandad y Cofradía de Nazarenos del Santísimo Cristo de la Viga, Nuestro Señor San Salvador y Nuestra Señora del Socorro”. This title brings together the different devotions that form the basis of the brotherhood’s religious worship and reflect its spiritual identity.
The images of Christ and the Virgin Mary traditionally form the focus of contemplation on the Passion and the mysteries of Christ, while the brotherhood’s other sacred dedications complement its spiritual heritage. 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
Home Church: Jerez Cathedral, at Plaza Encarnación, s/n, 11403 Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz)
Pictures / More info (Spanish)
