All-night Holy Week procession commemorates passion in El Salvador

  • On Holy Thursday in Izalco, the procession begins its way through the streets. The statue of the Nazareno can be rotated to face the homes of families along the route. Photo credit: Josue Parada/El Salvador
  • At the Holy week procession in Izalco, the Nazareno is followed by statues including, in order, the Virgin Dolorosa, Saint John, Mary Magdalene, and Veronica, who wiped the face of Jesus when he went to the Cross. Photo credit: Josue Parada/El Salvador
  • At 6 p.m. on Holy Thursday, the procession reaches the threshold of Our Lady of Sorrows. Heavy rains delay the procession, but only children are allowed to shelter from the rains. Photo credit: Josue Parada/El Salvador
  • The statue of Jesús Nazareno is brought out annually for the huge procession in Izalco. Photo credit: Josue Parada/El Salvador
  • Bearers carry the statue of Jesús Nazareno in Izalco. The procession lasts at least 15 hours, right through the night. Photo credit: Josue Parada/El Salvador
  • At dawn on Good Friday, a man is helped to crawl on his knees, blindfolded, for the final block on the route to the Nazareno's chapel, as an act of penance or supplication. Photo credit: Josue Parada/El Salvador

In Izalco, in Western El Salvador, the confraternity known as the Hermandad de Jesús Nazareno leads an overnight procession that brings thousands of people into the streets for that city’s biggest event of the year to commemorate Jesus’ Passion.

Credits
Photo credit: Josue Parada/El Salvador.