Passion

Very Illustrious and Fervent Brotherhood and Confraternity of the Nazarenes of Our Father Jesus of The Passion, Holy Mary of Love, and Saint John the Evangelist.

History

Founded in 1939 in the Parish of Our Lady of Peace in the San Basilio neighborhood, by confreres mostly coming from the Brotherhood of Our Lady of Transit, although with antecedents dating back to the 17th century. It walked the streets of the city for the first time in 1941, and by the end of that same decade, the Virgin of Love was added to the procession, accompanied by Saint John the Evangelist.

Church

Parish of Our Lady of Peace (San Basilio). The Parish of Our Lady of Peace is popularly known as “San Basilio” because it was the church of the convent of this religious order, which gave the neighborhood its name. After the 1835 confiscation, the convent was destroyed, and its rich artistic heritage was dispersed. Only the church was preserved, serving as an auxiliary to the Cathedral’s Tabernacle, until it was elevated to the status of a parish.

The Passion Brotherhood of the San Basilio neighborhood (or Alcázar Viejo) processes on Holy Wednesday.

The Sacred Images

Our Father Jesus of the Passion

The image of Our Father Jesus of the Passion is an anonymous 17th-century work which, due to its characteristics, appears to belong to the Sevillian school. Even before the brotherhood was founded, the Lord of Passion was highly venerated by the residents of Alcázar Viejo, most of whom were workers from the orchards surrounding the neighborhood—hence the name Christ of the Gardeners.

The image of the Nazarene is presented standing, in a walking posture, holding the wooden cross on his left shoulder. He leans his body forward while slightly turning his head toward the Cross. With dark complexion, his downcast gaze reflects contained sorrow, caused by the burden of the Cross and the punishments endured. The crown, full of thorns, causes drops of blood to run down his forehead.

The cross he currently carries in procession was crafted by Luis Álvarez Duarte. It is a tree-like cross that replaced a 17th-century quadrangular-section cross adorned with vegetal motifs and gilded, flamed corner fittings. As a dressed image, he wears a purple velvet tunic embroidered with fine gold thread.

Holy Mary of Love

The image of Holy Mary of Love is also an anonymous 17th-century work, though attributed to the Granadan school. Formerly known under the title of Our Lady of Sorrows, it originally consisted only of a bust, which was later completed with a candelero (body support). It has undergone numerous restorations due to its poor state of conservation, including one by the Cordoban Juan Martínez Cerrillo around 1946, and another by Miguel Ángel Arjona in 1982.

Her face radiates great sweetness, making it difficult to understand her former title of Sorrows, though it fits perfectly with her current one. With a pale complexion, her open eyes full of love for her son conceal the pain she suffers inside.

Saint John the Evangelist accompanies Holy Mary of Love. Formerly known as Saint John of the Palm, he is also an anonymous 17th-century work. He has undergone numerous restorations, most notably the one in 2001 by Antonio Bernal, who added a mustache and beard. Saint John displays balanced facial features and a serene expression, giving him a tender appearance and filial love toward the Mother.

Nazarene Habit

White tunic, purple face covering, and a white and purple cincture. Officers wear a white cape with purple lining.

Notable Insignias

• Guide Cross carved and gilded with mirror inlays, dated to the 17th century.
• Brotherhood banner embroidered in gold by the Adoratrice Mothers.
• Banner of the Virgin of Transit, embroidered in gold by the Philip Nuns in 1983.