Easter in Scicli

The Holy Week in Scicli is marked by several moments of great faith and tradition.
In the afternoon of Palm Sunday in Scicli the procession of the simulacrum of the Addolorata di Santa Maria la Nova takes place, an ancient tradition that dates back to the cult of San Guglielmo. During the procession, a large crowd of faithful can be seen moving, arranged in double rows, carrying lit torches in their hands, followed by the statuary group of the Pietà, a wooden sculpture representing the Madonna, lying with her head bowed, and the deposed Christ flanked by two standing pious women.
On Holy Tuesday in Scicli the procession of the Addolorata di San Bartolomeo takes place, a less ancient rite, but equally evocative, compared to that of Palm Sunday introduced to underline the presence of the Confraternity.
On Holy Thursday in Scicli the Saburcara, or Sepulchres, are set up in the chapels of the various churches, which are visited by the faithful, according to tradition, in odd numbers.
On the evening of Good Friday in Scicli, the evocative procession of the statue of the Madonna Addolorata takes place, called "dell'Ospedale" because it was once kept in the church of the Hospital which no longer exists. The statue of the Madonna moves from the church of San Giovanni towards the church of Santa M. la Nova where it meets the ferculo of the Dead Christ, which is placed at the head of the procession. The statue of Christ at Calvary and the Jews and an Ecce Homo also take part in the procession. The procession moves, amidst songs and prayers, through the main streets of the city until late in the evening.
On Easter Sunday in Scicli, also called Festa dell'Uomu Vivu, the procession of the Venerabile takes place, that is, the Monstrance carried by a priest under a large canopy with four poles, with the traditional blue silk banner at its head. Upon the return of the procession, a moment rich in great faith and folklore takes place: a crowd of young people, huddling together, lift the statue of the Living Man in their arms, and with a back-and-forth gait, carry it to the churchyard where the statue of the Risen Christ appears.

Dates and Scheduling

20 Apr 2025

Easter Sunday

10:00 Parade of the Musical Band through the city streets.

12:00 Exit of the Venerable Archconfraternity (Santa Maria La Nova).

13:00 Exit of the Statue of the Risen Christ "U Gioia".
 Chiesa di Santa Maria La Nova

15:00 Entrance of the simulacrum into the Church of Our Lady of Carmelo.
 Chiesa della Madonna del Carmine

16:30 The “Gioia” leaves in a solemn procession through the streets of the city.

20:00 Entrance to the Church of Madonna del Carmelo.
 Chiesa della Madonna del Carmine

22:00 Exit from the Church of Madonna del Carmelo of the statue of the risen Christ “U Gioia” carried on the shoulders of the bearers in the historic center.

03:00 Return of the statue to the Church of Santa Maria la Nova.
 Chiesa di Santa Maria La Nova

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