Holy Burial of Christ and Our Lady of Solitude Crowned Marchena 2025

Holy Week in Marchena comes to a close on Holy Saturday. After Jesus is taken down from the Cross, He is laid to rest in a glass sepulchre, while His desolate Mother watches over Him. This is the Procession of the Holy Burial of Christ, Our Lady of Solitude Crowned, and the Triumph of the Holy Cross. A brotherhood with a great many followers, beloved by the entire town. With a rich history—Soledad, who made her first Holy Saturday procession since being crowned, once belonged to none other than the Dukes of Arcos, lords of Marchena and far beyond. The church that now houses the brotherhood, Santa María de la Mota, was originally the chapel of the ducal palace.

This brotherhood begins its station of penance at 6:30 in the afternoon and does not conclude until the Virgin finally reaches the door of the church, around 2 in the morning—after many saetas have been sung along the stretch known as “Tiro de Santa María”. This is the famous tradition of Las Moleeras, which dates back centuries. The name comes from the old saying that the Duke would end up “molido” (exhausted) from waiting so long. The townspeople, devoted faithful who could see Our Lady of Solitude only once a year during Holy Week, would try to delay her farewell for as long as possible by singing saetas one after another without pause.

Accompanying the Holy Cross was the Cornet and Drum Band Nuestra Señora de la Merced from El Viso del Alcor. Behind the Lord’s float marched the Cornet and Drum Band of Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno from El Arahal. And once again, faithfully accompanying the canopy of the Virgin was the Music Band of the Red Cross of Seville.

This year’s video is a bit long, as I included the moleeras. That said, a word of warning: the footage at the end in Santa María is quite shaky because it was freezing cold, and I was shivering like a little pup.

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