holy friday procession

The Holy Friday Procession is organized by the Confraternity of the Immaculate or of the Turchini, founded in 1629 by the Jesuit fathers and all the participants wear the white dress and the "mozzetta", a light blue cloak.

In the square, in front of the Abbey of San Michele Arcangelo, the elder brother of the Turchini makes the "call" of all the participants, in a well-established order.

At the beginning of the procession there are the MYSTERIES, that are made each year by the people, in the months preceding the Holy Friday, in the marquees or in the backyards of the historical centre of the island, following a tradition transmitted to them by their fathers.

The Mysteries represent episodes from the Old Testament or the Gospel and are grouped in the end according to the religious theme.

The procession opens with a harrowing trumpet sound and the response of three drum hits.

These sounds, in the ancient Rome tradition, accompanied the condemned to death.

Thus, the different mysteries - destroyed and re-built year by year-, the fixed-religious-subjects statues, the Dead Christ statue (18th century by Carmine Lantriceni) and of the Addolorata (19th century), the pallìo (funeral canopy), parade.

The marching band of the island that performs funeral marches, the religious, civil and military authorities of the island and, in the end, the public, follow behind the Mysteries.

After the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows, follows the little-angels-parade: children 2 years old (and not older), wear a little black dress with golden embroidery, similar to the dress of Our Lady of Sorrows, as a mark of mourning.

The Procession of the Mysteries ends in Marina Grande Square, whie the statues of Christ and Our Lady of Sorrows are brought back to the Abbey of San Michele Arcangelo where, in the early afternoon, the famous religious function of the Agony is celebrated.