HOLY WEDNESDAY
Pontifical and Royal Brotherhood of Our Father Jesus at His Arrest, Mary Most Holy of Abandonment and the Apostle Saint Peter. |
Historical Background
According to municipal records, the brotherhood was founded in 1660 and was historically associated with the guilds of stonemasons and bricklayers. The brotherhood ceased to exist between the late 18th and early 19th centuries but, following subsequent periods of reorganisation, eventually restored its penitential presence in the historic Santiago neighbourhood.
The brotherhood’s later development has been closely linked both to the consolidation of its religious worship and to the preservation and enrichment of the artistic and devotional heritage that defines it today. Its current canonical seat is the Church of Santiago, at Plaza de Santiago, s/n, 11404 Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz), from where it continues to play an active role in the religious life of the surrounding community. The brotherhood makes its annual penitential procession on Holy Wednesday, forming part of Jerez’s traditional Holy Week celebrations.
Its foundation and subsequent reorganisations, the blessing of new sacred images and successive restorations reflect different stages in an enduring tradition of devotion. Together, these milestones illustrate the brotherhood’s evolution from its historic origins to its present-day form, while preserving the sacred dedications that remain at the heart of its religious identity. This historical journey helps explain the distinctive character with which the brotherhood takes its place today within Holy Week in Jerez.
Sacred Images and Patron Saints
Nuestro Padre Jesús del Prendimiento (Our Father Jesus at His Arrest) has traditionally been attributed to Luisa Roldán, known as La Roldana, although Francisco Camacho de Mendoza has also been proposed as its possible creator. María Santísima del Desamparo (Mary Most Holy of Abandonment) and the secondary figures in the sculptural group are associated with the Valencian school of religious sculpture, although their authorship remains unknown.
The brotherhood’s full official name is “Pontificia y Real Hermandad de Nuestro Padre Jesús del Prendimiento, María Santísima del Desamparo y Apóstol Señor San Pedro”. Its principal sacred images embody the brotherhood’s central devotions and provide the religious focus of both its regular worship and its public processions.
Where a misterio, or sculptural group depicting a scene from the Passion of Christ, is present, the image of Jesus is accompanied by the other figures that bring the Gospel episode to life. In this case, the scene represents the arrest of Christ, one of the key episodes marking the beginning of His Passion. The image of the Virgin Mary conveys the sorrowful and maternal dimension associated with her particular dedication, while the presence of Saint Peter broadens the spiritual and Gospel significance of the ensemble. Together, these elements form a coherent devotional and artistic programme that gives the brotherhood a distinctive and immediately recognisable identity within Holy Week in Jerez.
General information
Home Church: Church of Santiago, at Plaza de Santiago, s/n, 11404 Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz)
Pictures / more info (Spanish)
