Marina Pina

Updated Thursday, March 28, 2024-10:36

  • Traditions The military in Holy Week: a tradition that reaches its most popular expression with the Legion and the Christ of the Good Death of Malaga

  • Culture Muslim legionaries, in the Malaga procession: "My God is Allah, but the Christ of the Good Death is my protector"

The Levante dam in Málaga dawned crowded for another Maundy Thursday despite the rain. Hundreds of people have gathered to attend the disembarkation of the

legionaries

who will take out the Christ of the Good Death. The well-known carving of Pedro Mena that

dances

every year

to the rhythm of the Legion's anthem.

It is one of the most popular events of Holy Week, and it has been approached over the years by politicians, artists and popular people. However, in 2024 the Christ has been received by the highest institution of the State. Queen Doña Sofía has interrupted her vacation in Palma to attend, as another citizen, this encounter with the Christ that the Legion rocks to the rhythm of her anthem. Felipe VI's mother wanted to be present at this event despite the inclement weather, with

wind and rain

.

To know more

Easter week.

"My God is Allah, but the Christ of the Good Death is my protector"

  • Editorial: MARINA PINA Madrid

"My God is Allah, but the Christ of the Good Death is my protector"

Religiosity.

The military in Holy Week: a tradition that reaches its most popular expression with the Legion in Malaga

  • Editor: ESTHER GÓMEZ Málaga

The military in Holy Week: a tradition that reaches its most popular expression with the Legion in Malaga

As EL MUNDO has learned, it was the Royal House itself who a few days ago informed the Brotherhood of its desire for Doña Sofía to attend the disembarkation and also preside over the

transfer

of the Christ. The brotherhood received this news as an honor, but until they had seen Felipe VI's mother they did not want to celebrate the support, since it was a

private visit

that did not appear on the Zarzuela agenda.

Doña Sofía thus renews the support of the Family with a brotherhood to which she has had ties for years. The brotherhood has

the title of Royal

, a distinction granted to it by Zarzuela years ago. In addition, Kings Juan Carlos I and Doña Sofía are honorary butler and waitress, respectively.

As an example of that relationship, Felipe VI was in charge during Holy Week of 1996, then as Prince of Asturias, of giving the call as steward of the Christ of the Good Death. And Infanta

Doña Elena

has visited this brotherhood on two occasions, always in private appointments. This Thursday, Doña Sofía renewed the commitment of her House.

At 10 in the morning, the 8th flag of the Honor Squadron of the Third Don Juan of Austria of the Legion, from Ceuta,

began the disembarkation

on a rainy and cloudy dock. The legionnaires, at a brisk pace, descended from the auxiliary ship

Contramaestre Casado.

Once the unit was disembarked and formed, Doña Sofía reviewed the troops accompanied by the Head of the Military Quarter of the King's House, General

García Cirujeda,

and the Chief of Staff of the Army, General

Enseñat

. Doña Sofía received a standing ovation from those present, who gave her several cheers.

From there they went to the Church of Santo Domingo, where the image of the Christ of the Good Death, carved by Pedro Mena, was waiting

perched on the ground

, covered by the scripts that the Legion has donated throughout history.

Family meeting

Doña Sofía has traveled to Málaga from

Palma

, where she has spent the entire Holy Week for five decades. The mother of the Head of State settled last weekend at the

Marivent

Palace with her sister, Princess Irene of Greece. There, on Monday they attended the solidarity concert in favor of Proyecto Hombre that is held every year in the Basilica and which Doña Sofía never misses.

On Wednesday, Doña Sofía arrived in Malaga, where she took the opportunity to visit two brotherhoods before presiding over the disembarkation this Thursday.

Felipe VI's mother will spend time on the island until Sunday, when

she will leave for Madrid

. Three years ago, the Royal Family abandoned the tradition of attending Easter mass in the Cathedral of Palma and since then a private Eucharist has been celebrated in the Zarzuela chapel, where, in addition to the Emerita, Don Felipe usually attends with his daughters.

The Kings have spent these days of Holy Week in Madrid, where this Holy Thursday they receive the Infanta Sofía, who begins her vacation at the UWC Atlantic College boarding school in Wales. Don Felipe and Doña Letizia took advantage of the weekend to take

a walk through the center

of Madrid. Already on Tuesday, when the Princess of Asturias began her vacation at the General Military Academy, they traveled to Zaragoza to pick her up. Before leaving for Madrid, the Family stopped for lunch at the El Patio bar and restaurant.

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It was the establishment's own networks who published the image of the Kings and Doña Leonor having lunch there. A way to be seen as a family but without attending events these days of rest. Don Felipe and Doña Letizia will resume their

public agenda

next Monday, when their daughters are still in Zarzuela.

Last year, the Kings and their daughters attended the representation of the Living Passion of Chinchón on Holy Saturday. This year, Queen Doña Sofía has been in charge of making visible one of the most popular events of Spanish Holy Week.