Processional steps of Christ for Holy Week

Holy Week processional steps | Brotherhood imagery

The processional steps are one of the most characteristic elements of Holy Week . In Religious Articles Brabander we want to review the most representative elements of the processional steps. Steps that fill our streets with emotion during the Holy Week processions.

During Holy Week, the Paschal Candles are of great importance, through which we reaffirm our faith in the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ, charcoal and incense, which give atmosphere in processions and liturgical celebrations, etc...

In this entry we will talk about the steps of Mystery or steps of Christ .

footsteps of christ

The processional steps of Christ take their name from the presence of an image of Christ in the step. There are three groups of Mystery Steps:

• Footsteps of Christ Crucified .
• Pasos del Nazareno : Holy Week steps in which the image of Christ appears with the Cross on his Shoulder, alone or accompanied by the Cyrene.
• Pasos del Misterio : those steps of Holy Week in which Passionist scenes are represented.

Holy Week processional steps , structure

The structure of most of the steps of the Mystery or steps of Christ of Holy Week have a very similar structure. They all have their stretcher , which is the rectangular structure, usually made of wood, that supports the entire passage.

The short sides of the rectangular structure are called front and back and the long sides coastal. The costaleros raise the Holy Week step using the workers , which are thick wooden slats that cross the step.

In most cases, the stretcher of the passage is covered in the front, rear and coastal parts by vents and skirts. The vents can be made of carved noble woods, carved and gilded woods or noble metals.

The basket or basket of the passage of Holy Week is in the upper part of the stretcher. The size of the basket is smaller than the wooden structure. The basket is usually adorned with cartouches, little angels, chapels,... distributed along the sides, front and back of the basket. They are usually oval in shape. In the front part is the caller or hammer with which the foreman gives the orders to "lift up" and lower the Holy Week steps.

The steps of Misterio are illuminated with candlesticks, lanterns or axes , which are placed on the basket. The illumination of the Mystery step is called " the wax ". Finally, in some steps of Holy Week we can find a mount of carnations or lilies under the images.

You can find all kinds of religious steps of Holy Week within the religious imagery of our online store.