The Blood (Cistercian)

Sacramental, Seraphic, and Cistercian Brotherhood of Foremen and Porters of the Holy Cross and Brotherhood of Nazarenes of the Most Holy Christ of the Conversion, Our Father Jesus of The Blood in the Scorn of the People, Our Lady Queen of Angels in her Joyful and Sorrowful Mysteries, and Saint John the Evangelist.

History

Founded in 1976 at the Cistercian monastery by students of La Salle School. On Holy Tuesday of 1989, it carried out its first penance procession. In 1996, it moved to the convent of Santo Ángel (Capuchins), with which it has had a close relationship since its inception, becoming its official canonical seat on January 15, 2002, by decree of the Order of Capuchin Friars Minor of the Bética Province. In 1998, the image of the Lord of the Blood was added to the penance procession. In September 2005, they performed an extraordinary procession for the first time with the founding image, the Virgin of the Angels in her Joyful Mysteries, a work by Eslava.

Temple

Conventual Church of Santo Ángel (Capuchin Fathers). Built in the 17th century, it stands in the very Cordoban Plaza de Capuchinos with a decorative austerity that contrasts with the sober Baroque interior. The main altar stands out, with paintings of Sevillian aesthetics by Acisclo Leal Gaete, following Franciscan iconographic models. The images of the brotherhood preside throughout the year over large altars placed at both ends of the small transept of the church, decorated with paintings alluding to the Passion and to the Porziuncola.

The Images

Lord of the Blood

The Lord of the Blood is a work by Antonio Eslava Rubio from Carmona, completed around 1978, and was also his last work, as he died shortly after finishing it. The Lord is presented standing, leading the mystery, before the people. The scene depicts the moment when Pilate, together with Jesus and Barabbas, asks the crowd which of the two should be released for Passover.

A total of seven figures make up the scene, all except the Lord sculpted by Francisco Pinto Barraquero from Jerez. Behind Jesus are two Roman soldiers dressed with breastplates and short skirts, one of them holding the rope binding Barabbas. Behind them stands Pilate, pointing to the Lord, in a gesture of asking the people. The scene is completed by a third Roman soldier and Claudia Procula, Pilate’s wife.

Though it is a dressable image, it is fully carved. Standing, with hands bound, it is characterized by great expressiveness. His head turns slightly to the right and tilts downward in a submissive pose. The blood stands out on his dark face, running evenly down his forehead. He has very marked features, such as reddened cheekbones and a furrowed brow, with wavy hair and a thick beard framing slightly parted lips.

Our Lady Queen of Angels

The Queen of Angels is a candlestick-style image made by Luis Álvarez Duarte around 1980. She is accompanied by the image of Saint John the Evangelist, also by the same artist. With a low, intimate gaze, she barely frowns and does not have a parted mouth, forming an image of great elegance.

Nazarene Habit

Tunic and cloak of white twilled fabric with purple buttons and purple velvet hood. Purple cincture with three simple knots, ending in two tassels of the same color, which fall to the right side. On the cloak, at the level of the left elbow, a representation of the brotherhood’s emblem is attached.

Notable Insignias

• Guide Cross made of wood with silverwork by Villarreal.
• Blue velvet “Simpecado” with a figure of the Immaculate in gold, silver, and ivory, embroidered by Piedad Muñoz and with ivories by Kiernan, based on a design by Fray Ricardo of Córdoba.
• Seraphic banner with embroidery by Antonio Villar and carving by Manuel Luque Bonillo (1996), blessed in Assisi. Conceptionist banner in silver with gold embroidery, a work by Antonio Villar.
• Heralding trumpets chiseled by Villarreal with gold-embroidered banners featuring sacramental and Franciscan motifs.