The descent of the treasured image of Jesús Nazareno will take place this Sunday

This Sunday 23rd, being the Third Sunday of Lent, is a very special date in the religious calendar of Xàbia. It is the day of ‘La Bajada–La Baixada‘, the traditional descent of the town’s most cherished image of Jesús Nazareno, which will be hoisted onto the strong shoulders of the Brotherhood and carried slowly from the iconic blue-domed chapel of Calvario to the church of San Bartolomé, accompanied by the people of the town, some bare-footed, many carrying candles to light the way.

There it will stay in the heart of the historic centre over the Easter period (when it will make a journey along the Vía Crucis in the early morning of Good Friday before being carried in solemn procession through the narrow streets of the historic centre in the evening of the same day) and during the festivities which are held in its honour at the end of April and into May, after which it will be carried back up to the chapel on the hill.

This week, members of the Cofradía de Jesus Nazareno – the Brotherhood – visited the mayor Rosa Cardona to deliver the programme of events for this year’s descent as well as the festivities that will begin just a few days after Easter.

On Sunday 23rd March, at 6.30pm, the clergy and representatives from the local council, including the mayor, will leave the church square in the heart of the historic centre and make their way up to the chapel of Calvario. At 7.00pm, the descent will begin, the image carried on the shoulders of the Brotherhood and accompanied by the faithful and the town band down to the fortress-church.

On Monday 24th March – Día de Jesús Nazareno – there will be a solemn mass at 12 noon with a sermon held in his honour and then the Novena – nine days of prayer will begin, lasting until Tuesday 1st April.