HOLY SATURDAY
Pontifical, Royal, Venerable and Ancient Brotherhood of the Holy Burial of Our Lord Jesus Christ and Our Lady of Piety. |
Historical Background
The Brotherhood of the Holy Burial represents one of the historic penitential traditions of Jerez. Its artistic heritage includes pieces of considerable age and importance, among them the processional bier made of silver and rock crystal in the 17th century, a remarkable testimony to the brotherhood’s historical and artistic significance.
These milestones illustrate how the brotherhood gradually developed its religious identity, processional traditions and artistic heritage. Its current canonical seat is the Royal Chapel of Calvary, at Calle Taxdirt, 4, 11408 Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz), from where it maintains devotion to its sacred images and its close ties with the local community.
its place among the brotherhoods of Holy Week in Jerez. Its foundation, the blessing of sacred images, subsequent reorganisations, restorations and inaugural processions are all important milestones in understanding its present-day identity. Over time, the continuity of its religious worship and the preservation of its sacred images have helped strengthen the bonds between successive generations of brotherhood members.
Sacred Images
The recumbent image of Christ is an anonymous 16th-century sculpture. It is venerated and carried in procession in a sterling-silver and rock-crystal bier created by Juan Laureano de Pina in 1669. The image was restored between 2003 and 2004 by Enrique Ortega Ortega. The brotherhood’s principal Marian image is Nuestra Señora de la Piedad (Our Lady of Piety).
The brotherhood’s full official name is “Pontificia, Real, Venerable y Antigua Hermandad del Santo Entierro de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo y Nuestra Señora de la Piedad”. This title brings together the sacred dedications that shape the brotherhood’s religious worship and reflect the Passion of Christ and its particular Marian devotion.
The principal sacred images form the devotional centre of the brotherhood. When they form part of a misterio, or sculptural group depicting a scene from the Passion, they are arranged to convey the corresponding Gospel episode through visual storytelling. In this case, the recumbent Christ and the historic processional bier give visual form to the mystery of Christ’s burial, while the image of Our Lady of Piety adds the sorrowful and maternal dimension associated with the Passion. Together, these sacred images form a unified devotional and artistic identity, representing the brotherhood both in its regular religious worship and in its annual Holy Week procession.
General information
Home Church: Royal Chapel of Calvary, at Calle Taxdirt, 4, 11408 Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz)
Pictures / more info (Spanish)
