THE DAY WITH ALL THE VIRGINS IN THE STREETS TOGETHER: MAGNA MARIANA OF MARCHENA

There was an special day in the religious history of Marchena (Seville, Spain). September 18th of 2016 was a great and glamorous day that commemorated the fourth centenary of the concepcionist vow.

WHAT’S THE CONCEPCIONIST VOW?

It has always been a belief of the Christian faith that the Virgin Mary was conceived without original sin. In medieval times, about five centuries ago, certain religious spheres trying to reform the ideas of the church, such as Protestants, began to question this idea.

To defend the concept of the Immaculate Conception, that the Virgin was born without original sin, hundreds of brotherhoods and religious congregations signed an agreement to fight to preserve this idea. This agreement was called the conceptionist vow. And Magna Mariana celebrates the anniversary of that agreement.

WHICH VIRGINS FLOATS WALKED ON THE STREETS IN THE MAGNA MARIANA?

In the Magna Mariana all the brotherhoods of the town processed together, but also did El Pilar and El Rocío. In total, and in order, the virgins who processed were:

• Virgin of Mercy
• Virgen del Pilar
• Virgen del Rocío
• Virgin of Sorrows
• Virgin of Mercy
• Virgin of Hope
• Virgin of Tears
• Virgin of Sorrows
• Virgin of Solitude

WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT MAGNA MARIANA?

While I’m not really a religious person, I see all this world of brotherhoods, processions and religious images a work of art. And it’s true, it has a beauty that can’t be denied.

Marchena, my hometown, has a wide and deep centuries old religious culture, and this is shown both in Holy Week and also in special days like this one that happens once in a century.

As a photographer I can’t stop myself to go out and take pictures of a so important and majestic event like this one.

I hope you enjoy this collection of pictures from this glorious day of the Magna Mariana of Marchena: