In Cagliari the rituals to walk Christ to the cross

Cagliari has a great tradition of the Holy Week, not only for the importance of the religious event itself, but also for the so-called ritual of the Seven Mysteries, happening two days after Palm Sunday.

On Passion Tuesday the Arch Confraternity of the Holy Cross (located in the parish of San Giacomo and instituted in 1616) organizes a procession, during which seven wooden simulacrums are taken along. These seven simulacrums were created by the seventeenth century sculptor Giuseppe Antonio Lonis, willing to represent the seven stages of the Passion. The simulacrums are carried up from the Oratorio del Santissimo Crocifisso to seven churches in the old city centre. After 40 years, the procession of the Mysteries of the Passion of Christ was firstly re-proposed in 2005 by the church of San Michele (Stampace quarter): it dates back to the beginning of the 1700's.

On the evening of Holy Thursday the believers visit the churches where the Sepulcher has been prepared: particularly followed is the procession organized by the Arch Confraternity of Gonfalone (instituted in 1794, located in Stampace quarter) touching seven churches of the old city centre. Choruses exhibitions of both confraternities of Villanova's quarter are have a large following, that separately follows both procession.

The singers of the Arch Confraternity of Solitude (headed by the church of San Giovanni and instituted in 1603) sing in four voices choruses, according to a tradition passed down from father to son: on Holy Friday the members of the confraternity wear tunics and white hoods, while women are in black dress and veils cover their face nearby the Cathedral.

With the continuous drum roll backing, the Christ in cross is entrusted to the sacristan of the Cathedral and the Madonna's simulacrum is brought back to San Giovanni church. The dead Christ is set down from the Cross on the Holy Saturday then he is led back on his litter and he leaves to Villanova church. The preparative of the Arch Confraternity of Holy Cross are more detailed.

On the Tuesday there is the clothing of Our Lay of Sorrows, while on the Good Friday takes place the usual procession from Villanova to San Lucifero church ( some hour after the procession of the Arch Confraternity of Solitude): opened by women in black dress and white-shaded veils. They hold a candle and a rosary on their hands. The men sing distressingly according to the tradition.

On Friday, late in the evening, the procession of the Dead Christ leaves from the church of Sant’Efisio, organized by the Arch Confraternity of Gonfalone.

Su Scravamentu (that is the deposition of Christ from the cross) is expected for Saturday, when the body of Jesus is brought back to San Giacomo. On Easter, in Villanova you can see one of the most suggestive moment rich in religious significance: S’Incontru , the meeting with the Madonna who, no longer dressed in mourning, meets and embraces Her risen Son. Afterterwards, the Saint Mass is celebrated in San Giacomo church (same appointment on the streets of Marina and Stampace).

If you pass by the Villanova quarter , we suggest you to visit the two churches where you can even see the antique pipe organ: one constructed by Giuseppe Lazzari in 1757 (Church of San Giovanni) and the organ delivered by Carlo Mancini to the parish of Saint Giacomo, in 1769.