The Sentence

Illustrious Brotherhood of the Blessed Sacrament, Our Lady of Joy, and Nazarene Confraternity of Our Father Jesus of the Judgment, Most Holy Mary of Grace and Protection, and Saint Nicholas of Bari.

History

Founded in 1944 in the Parish of San Nicolás de la Villa by lawyers and industrialists, supported by the parish priest Paulino Seco Herrera, under the title of Jesus before Pilate, which was replaced in 1946 by the current dedication of Our Father Jesus of the Judgment. It carried out its first penitential procession on Holy Monday of 1945, being the only brotherhood to process on this day until 1951, the year the Brotherhood of the Remedy of Souls joined.

In 1976, Most Holy Mary of Grace and Protection was incorporated as co-patron and joined the penitential procession in 1979. Currently, the brotherhood is involved in the restoration of the Hermitage of Our Lady of Joy with the aim of establishing its headquarters there and worshiping its sacred images year-round. There are also plans to commission a new image of Our Lady of Joy, titular of the brotherhood, from the Cordoban sculptor Miguel Ángel Jurado, since the original is in very poor condition and practically beyond repair.

Temple

Parish of San Nicolás de la Villa. It is one of the oldest churches in Córdoba, dating back to the reconquest of the city in 1236. Among its distinctive features, special mention goes to its slender tower, built in the 15th century over an old Islamic minaret.

Its current bell tower structure is a 19th-century construction that replaced the previous one from the 18th century. The portal facing the Avenida del Gran Capitán was built in 1555 by the architect Hernán Ruiz II.

The Sacred Images

Our Father Jesus of the Judgment

The image of the Lord of the Judgment was created around 1945 by the Cordoban sculptor Juan Martínez Cerrillo. From that original mystery group, only the main figure remains. The initial scene presented Jesus with his back to the people, before Pilate, flanked by a soldier and a member of the Sanhedrin, with his hands tied behind his back, representing the second appearance before Pilate.

In 1946, the brotherhood decided to change the title of its main figure, from Jesus before Pilate to Jesus of the Judgment. The Lord is now placed at the front of the float, facing the people with his hands tied in front, which alters the original scene.

In 1990, Miguel Ángel González Jurado was commissioned to create a new mystery group, keeping the main figure. This was based on the Gospel of Matthew, incorporating figures of a Roman soldier, Barabbas, Pontius Pilate enthroned, a member of the Sanhedrin, and Claudia Procula kneeling.

Most Holy Mary of Grace and Protection

The Virgin of Grace and Protection is an anonymous sculpture that remained forgotten in the basement of the Church of San Nicolás until it was rescued by Friar Ricardo of Córdoba. Initially, Luis Álvarez Duarte was considered for its restoration, but it was ultimately carried out by Rafael Orti Meléndez-Valdés.

The image was blessed in 1976 under the title of Grace and Protection. It is a candelero-style Virgin, extensively restored due to its poor condition, with pronounced features and a pale complexion that conveys deep sorrow.

Nazarene Habit

Garnet tunic with white buttons down the center and on the sleeves. White cape. White face covering with the Brotherhood’s emblem centered. Two-colored braided cincture, garnet and white, falling to the left side. Black shoes and socks, and white gloves.

Notable Insignias

• Guiding Cross (1988), made in the workshops of Viuda de Villarreal and enriched with chiseled silver corners.
• Standard with a smooth mast topped by the brotherhood’s emblem and a cardinal red velvet cloth embroidered by Cistercian nuns with the inscription Non invenio in eo causam.
• “Bacalao” embroidered in fine gold by Piedad Muñoz of Albaida del Aljarafe, based on a design by Friar Ricardo of Córdoba.
• Parish banner embroidered in the workshops of Antonio Villar Moreno, with metalwork by the Zamorano Brothers.