Muy Ilustre, Penitencial y Franciscana Cofradía del Santísimo Ecce-Homo y Nuestra Señora de la Amargura
Fundation year: 1946
Canonical See: San Antonio de Padua Parish
Images:
Ecce-Homo Sculptural Group: Santísimo Ecce-Homo • Antonio Castillo Lastrucci 1954. Pontius Pilate, Roman • Antonio Castillo Lastrucci 1954. Sayón • Antonio Castillo Lastrucci 1960
Image Mariana: Our Lady of Bitterness • Antonio Castillo Lastrucci 1960
Shield:
In the first place we can find an enhanced cross in garneolor of the brotherhood, in reference to the Brotherhood of the Holy Redemption (Branch of this Brotherhood). Likewise, a heart pierced by a dagger appears on the cross, in memory of the pain and bitterness suffered by the Blessed Virgin. This entire shield is framed by the Crown of Thorns, symbol of the Passion of Christ, and an element that was used in a humiliating way for its subsequent presentation to the people, a passage that represents the owner of the Brotherhood, the Holy Ecce-Homo.
Dress:
It is traditional for this Confraternity to wear a black tunic with cardinal red buttons. Mask and cape, too, in cardinal red. The emblem of the Brotherhood can be seen embroidered on the mask. The habit is completed with a cardinal red silk girdle, white gloves and socks, and black shoes.
History:
There are documents that prove the existence of the Cofradía del Ecce-Homo in the 18th century, and it could even be dated at least a century earlier, since the devotion to Ecce-Homo in our city has always been linked to the veneration of La Soledad "La Marinera "in the Convent of the Nuns of the Blood and the antiquity of said dedication.
We know of the existence of an image that used to procession in the General of Good Friday at the beginning of the century and that left the Convent of the Capuchin Nuns.
During the celebration of a meal for former Franciscan students in 1946, the idea arose of founding a brotherhood with the dedications of Ecce-Homo and Ntra. Sra. de la Amargura, establishing the brotherhood in the convent and school of the Franciscans, and writing some founding statutes based on those of other brotherhoods in the city.
Once everything is lost, it will be on November 4, 1946 when the invocation of Ecce-Homo or "Cristo de la Canyeta" - popular name that was given in our city - is recovered for Alicante.
It will be the Franciscan Father, Pedro Lozano, together with a group of former students from the school, who will lead the initiative of this foundation.
There are three main images that this Brotherhood has processed throughout its history. The first of them was the work of Juan Martínez Mataix and that was lent for its processional exit by its owner, Don Luis Sánchez Esteve, who at the same time was butler of this entity. In 1952 it was replaced by a work by Juan Giner Masegosa that cost the Brotherhood 17,000 pesetas. It will be the first work owned. Finally, and not satisfied with the quality of the work that was owned, in 1954 the imagemaker Antonio Castillo Lastrucci was commissioned to carry out the definitive work that has survived to this day. This work had a cost of 35,000 pesetas and was completed in 1960 with the work of a "executioner" for an amount of 11,000 pesetas.
The second "step" that this Brotherhood processions was also entrusted to Castillo Lastrucci in 1959 for an amount of 7,500 pesetas.
Until 1974, the Cofradía del Ecce-Homo paraded on Holy Monday. In 1975 he did it on Holy Wednesday and from 1976 to the present, he has been doing it on Holy Tuesday.
The passage of the Ecce-Homo has been carried on wheels, shoulders inside and since 2003 to sack. The image of the Virgin would be replaced in 1959 by a new carving of D. Antonio Castillo Lastrucci with the invocation of Our Lady of Bitterness; a step that has also been carried on the shoulders and on wheels, and that since 2013 has been in procession by sack.
Musical contribution to Holy Week
- Via Crucis of Cristo de la Canyeta • Felipe Sanchís Berná. Premiered on February 21, 2007 in the church of San Antonio.
- Bitterness of Alicante • Luis Molina. Premiered on April 9, 2011 at the San Nicolás Co-Cathedral.
- Ecce Homo from Alicante • Luis Molina. March of procession dedicated to the Brotherhood. Released on February 8, 2020