The Nazarene

Real and Illustrious Brotherhood of Our Father Jesus the Nazarene, Most Holy Mary the Nazarene, and Saint Bartholomew.

History

Its nearly five centuries of history, the artistic quality and the devotion inspired by the images of its titular figures, and the neighborhood in which it is based, San Lorenzo, make the Brotherhood of Our Father Jesus the Nazarene, Most Holy Mary the Nazarene, and Saint Bartholomew one of the main brotherhoods of the Holy Week in Córdoba. Although there are few documents that specify the exact date of its foundation, the existing ones agree in placing the origin of this brotherhood in the 15th century, and they also point to its connection with the guild of cloth weavers that was present in Córdoba at that time.

Since the penitential nature of the Nazarene brotherhood was established in the last third of the 16th century, a strong devotion began to take root. The 1578 constitutions approved that the procession of Jesus the Nazarene would depart at dawn on Good Friday that same year. Currently, it is the first brotherhood of Holy Thursday to enter the Official Route.

Temple

Church of the Hospital of Jesus the Nazarene. An important 17th-century work built on the same site where the Hospital of Saint Bartholomew once stood, which is why this has also been another name for Jesús Nazareno Street.

The Titular Figures

Our Father Jesus the Nazarene

The image of Our Father Jesus the Nazarene is an anonymous sculpture dated to the 16th century. Several historians have attributed it to Andrés de Ocampo, others to Pablo de Rojas himself, but currently, these claims lack solid evidence.

Carved in white poplar wood, this full-body Nazarene with a perizoma wears the crown of thorns in the style typical of the 16th century. Slightly hunched, he carries the Cross on his left shoulder while turning his head slightly to the right. His face, with very pronounced features, is barely visible beneath a thick and roughly carved beard. With a straight nose and curved eyebrows, he slightly furrows his brow, while drops of blood slowly trickle down his wrinkled forehead.

Today, he processes dressed in a purple velvet tunic with gold thread embroidery, displaying beautiful floral motifs. The silver Cross was made in 1860 by silversmith Francisco Parias Álvarez; its arms are smooth, the edges are molded and gilded, the corners feature rococo elements with Passion motifs, and at the crossing, there is a disc on each side—one decorated with a lion, the other with a lamb.

Most Holy Mary the Nazarene

The image of Most Holy Mary the Nazarene is also an anonymous work, dated to the 18th century. She has been venerated under this title since 1972, as she was previously the titular image of the Calvary Brotherhood under the title of Most Holy Mary of the Greatest Sorrow.

Moreover, this image replaced the previous titular image, Our Lady of Sorrows, which is now located at a side altar of the Church of the Hospital of Our Father Jesus the Nazarene.

With a pale complexion, her beautiful face gazes heavenward, showing her large, wide-open eyes and evoking a profound sense of pathos.

Nazarene Habit

Black tunic, cape, and scapular with a Franciscan cord.

Notable Insignias

• Guide Cross designed and crafted in wood by Andrés Valverde Luján (1974) with 18th-century silver pieces from the old float of the Nazarene.
• Purple banner with the image of Jesus the Nazarene embroidered in gold and silk (18th century).
• Purple flag with the Sweet Name of Jesus embroidered in gold by Sister Martina, who also created the black flag (1976).
• Oil painting of the Nazarene image by Juan Manuel Ayala.