The image of Loreto rises to the historic centre this Saturday
The last time the image was carried to the historic centre was in 1996, the 100th anniversary of the festivities held in its honour.
Thursday 21st April 2022 – Mike Smith
Source: original article – Álvaro Monfort
On the morning of this Saturday 23rd April, a very special event will be taking place in Xàbia, one which happened last time back in 1996, the rise of the image of the Mare de Déu de Loreto to the historic centre and its meeting with the town’s treasured image of Jesús Nazareno, an event that is expected to be one full of popular fervour.
It’s actually been 26 years since the patron saint of Aduanas del Mar was carried up to the heart of the town, accompanied by hundreds of the faithful as well as curious onlookers. The act should have taken place last year but the ongoing health crisis prevented it from happening so this year, in a more relaxed atmosphere, the rise will be repeated on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the festivities that honour the patron saint of the port zone. The image of Loreto will remain in the historic centre for 24 hours before being carried back down to the port.
In collaboration with both the Cofradía de Jesús Nazareno and the Comissió de Festes Mare de Déu de Loreto, the parishes of San Bartolomé and Nuestra Señora de Loreto have put together a programme for this weekend, both religious and popular, that will take place in the ancient church-fortress in the heart of the historic centre of Xàbia.
Saturday 23rd April
08:30 – The images of Mare de Déu de Loreto and Jesús Nazareno will leave their respective parish churches in pilgrimage to meet together outside the Asilo-Residencia Hermanos Cholbi where they will be received by the members of the Grup de Danses Portitxol. Then, they will rise together to the historic centre of Xàbia, accompanied by the xabieros and xabieras.
17:00 – Celebration of the Joyful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary with the children of the Communion and the young people of the two parishes.
After the mass at 19:30 – Performance by La Tuna de Xàbia in front of the two images.
Sunday 24th April
12:00 – Eucharist and celebration of unction of the sick. To receive it, it will be neccesary to register at either of the two parishes before Friday 22nd April.
18:00 – Solemn Eucharist sang by the Parish Choir of Aduanas del Mar. Afterwards, the two images will be carried in pilgrimage from the historic centre to the Asilo Hermanos-Cholbi along the following route: Plaça de l’Església, Plaza Celestino Pons, Carrer Roques, Ronda Norte, Avenida del Príncipe de Asturias, Calle Doctor Borull, Calle Virgen de la Soledad, Calle Jesús Nazareno, Placeta del Convent, Carrer Major, Calle Primicias, Calle San Buenaventura, Plaça de l’Església, Plaza Celestino Pons, Carrer Roques, Calle Escola, Avenida de Alicante and Avenida Juan Carlos I. At the Asilo Hermanos-Cholbi, the images will bid farewell to each other and return to their respective parishes.
The Last Time – 1996
A video of the last time the image of Mare de Déu de Loreto was carried in procession to the historic centre in 1996, captured on video by Fran Marin Cholbi. Back then, the image of Jesús Nazareno waited at Plaza Celestino Pons; this year, it will be carried down to the Asilo Hermanos Cholbi to meet the image of the Loreto.
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