The Agony

Sacramental Brotherhood and Nazarenes’ Confraternity of the Most Holy Christ of the Agony and the Blessed Virgin Mother of the Redeemer Our Lady of Health.

History

Founded in 1979 by a group of parishioners from the Santa Victoria parish. Since 1979, it has held its Holy Monday procession through the streets of the Naranjo neighborhood, incorporating the image of Mary Most Holy Mother of the Redeemer in 1989. On Holy Tuesday of 1996, the brotherhood made its first official procession. In 2004, the 50th anniversary of the enthronement of the Most Holy Christ of the Agony and the 25th founding anniversary of the Brotherhood were commemorated.

Temple

Parish of Santa Victoria. One of the foundations of the city’s great bishop in the 1950s: Fray Albino González. As in his other projects—the Cañero and Cerro neighborhoods—the church is the center of the neighborhood, although it is smaller than its contemporaries. Designed by architect Carlos Saenz de Santa María, the temple was dedicated to the saintly sister of Saint Acisclus. The altarpiece on the main altar comes from the Church of San Pedro and was previously located in one of its side naves.

The Images

Most Holy Christ of the Agony

The image of the Most Holy Christ of the Agony is the work of sculptor Antonio Castillo Ariza, made in 1954. It depicts a crucified Christ agonizing on the cross. It is a full-body sculpture, marked by great simplicity and elegance. Slightly smaller than life-size, it stands out for its expressive face—a face with softly defined features, including hair and beard sculpted in large wavy locks. His gaze, distant, doesn’t fully reflect the character of the moment—of agony, pain, and suffering.

The crown of thorns, crafted by Miguel Arjona Navarro, is modest in design and causes the wounds from which blood drips down the Lord’s face. The tree-like cross, made by José Carlos Rubio Valverde, includes a titulus and corner pieces, both in silver-plated alpaca.

The Most Holy Christ of the Agony is one of the most beloved images of Holy Week in Córdoba. Despite its great simplicity, the city recognizes the tremendous effort it takes for the brotherhood to reach the Official Processional Route from such a modest and distant neighborhood.

Most Holy Virgin Mother of the Redeemer Our Lady of Health

Although she does not accompany the Most Holy Christ of the Agony during the Holy Tuesday penitential procession, Our Lady of Health is a deeply venerated image in her neighborhood. It is the first work of Cordoban sculptor Miguel Ángel González Jurado, created in 1988.

It is a “candelero” image, designed to be dressed, with only the hands and face sculpted. Her head turns slightly to the right. She has a downcast gaze, a straight nose, and a pronounced chin. This sorrowful Virgin, with a furrowed brow as a sign of pain, slightly parts her fleshy lips in a restrained gesture of suffering.

Nazarene Habit

Purple tunic and hood, white buttons and cincture, with white gloves.

Notable Insignias

• Guide Cross and lanterns made of wood by the workshop of José Mª Higuera.
• Brotherhood standard (1993) in purple velvet with silverwork by Manuel de los Ríos, designed by Fray Ricardo of Córdoba and embroidered in appliqué by San Rafael workshops of Córdoba.
• Book of Rules (1996) in purple velvet with silverwork, crafted by Mogaly workshops of Córdoba and designed by José Carlos Rubio Valverde.