Three Thrones Rocked Inside the Church of the Incarnation
The Brotherhood of the Captive and Santa Marta of Marbella were unable to hold their procession this Holy Tuesday due to rain. This time, they didn’t even make it to the church square, as they did in 2022, and instead held a ceremony inside the church.
Difficult Decision to Cancel the Parade Due to Rain
The difficult decision to cancel the parade due to rain was announced by the elder sister, Pilar Benito, just minutes before the scheduled start time of 21:00. The forecasts were optimistic, but around 20:00 the first shower of the day fell, setting off alarms. The wind was also a threat. In an emergency meeting of the Board of Directors, it was decided not to go out, a wise decision as it continued to rain lightly, making it impossible to hold the procession.
Unfortunate Circumstances for the Brotherhood
It’s a real shame for a brotherhood that has only been able to hold a normal procession one year (2023) out of the last five, including the pandemic years. In 2022, it was announced mid-afternoon that there would be no parade, and on that occasion, the thrones were taken to the church square for an hour and a half.
Weather Conditions Affected the Brotherhood in 2016
The weather also affected this brotherhood in 2016, when they had to turn back shortly after starting due to the threat of rain. The Captive was already on Station Street and had to return quickly, while the Brothers of Bethany were in the square of Los Naranjos, with the Virgin of the Incarnation still at the church doors.
Shortened Procession in 2013 Due to Fear of Rain
In 2013, a normal procession was also not possible due to fear of precipitation. On that occasion, a short route was chosen and the final stretch had to be sped up. This evening, they couldn’t even go out on the street, a circumstance that would require going much further back in time to find something similar.
Public Gathered at the Church Square
In the church square, under umbrellas, a large crowd tried to enter the church several times, but it was impossible to allow everyone access. Inside, they enjoyed praying, rocking the three thrones, interpreting saetas (traditional Spanish songs), and ringing the first bells of Antonio Pelegrina, Manuel Lavigne, and María Jesús Rivero.
Brothers of Bethany Carried by Women
The Brothers of Bethany, María, Marta, and Lázaro, were carried entirely by women, as has been customary since 2015. The Brotherhood of Our Father Jesus Captive, María Santísima de la Encarnación, Santa Marta, and Marí is the brotherhood of hoteliers, the only purely guild one in the municipality. Their parade usually ends with the distribution of cakes in the church square after 2 in the morning.
Planned Route for This Year
The route planned for this year, which was new, went through the streets of Trinidad, Salinas, Arte, Puente Málaga (Tribuna), Avenida Nabeul, Marqués de Nájera, Tetuán, Enrique del Castillo, and Avenida Ramón y Cajal. The return was through Huerta Chica, Peral, Plaza Puente Ronda, Chorrón, Portada, Arte, Salinas, Trinidad, Plaza de la Iglesia, and back to their Temple. So far, two out of four brotherhoods have been unable to go out in this year’s Holy Week in Marbella due to rain, and the forecasts are not very optimistic for the remainder.
