The third week of Lent begins with two vigils and ends with the third processional procession of Lent in La Antigua – Jocotenango.
Friday March 1- The third week of Lent
The third Friday of Lent is observed, north of La Antigua in the municipality of Jocotenango which is in the Parish of Our Lady of La Asunción. Here, the consecrated image of Jesus Nazareno “El Dulce Rabí” and the Virgin of Dolores “Sweet Mother of Jocotenango” are venerated.
It is believed that the image goes back to the XVIII century and that it is one of the images that belonged to some of the brotherhoods that existed in Jocotenango before 1773. Its author is unknown.
The funeral march dedicated to the image of Jesús Nazareno de Jocotenango is titled “Divino Nazareno de Jocotenango” and was written by Carlos Humberto Mendizábal Gallardo.
Saturday March 2 – The third week of Lent
The procession for the replicas of Jesus Nazareno of the Sweet Look and Virgen de Dolores of the Santa Ana Temple is carried out in the Santa Ana Village. This village is located in the southeast of La Antigua, about 1 kilometre away from the city center.
Sunday March 3- The third week of Lent
There will be a concert of funeral marches at 3 PM at the Temple of La Merced where, in addition, the children’s vigil of Jesus Nazareno “El Peregrino” takes place from 6 AM to 6 PM. This temple is located on 6th Avenue North and 1st Street West of La Antigua and is the work of the architect Juan de Dios Estrada.
At 9 AM, the same Sunday, the procession of the Parish of Our Lady of La Asunción. The brotherhood of this parish is almost 120 years old, and was in charge of the image of Jesus Nazareno de Jocotenango “El Dulce Rabí” coming out on the procession on Holy Monday. But in the decades after the establishment of the procession, it was changed to the third Sunday of Lent.
The Village
The municipality of Jocotenango https://quepasa.gt/visit-jocotenango/ is located north of La Antigua and its name means “the place where the Jocotes abound”, illustrated with a sculpture of a jocote at the entrance to the Municipality. The patronal feast in honor of the Virgin of the Assumption is celebrated on August 15 with various cultural activities and the traditional jaripeo. The commemoration of the image of Jesus Nazareno is celebrated on February 15.
Written by: Sofia Letona
Photos: Sofia Letona
Map of the Procession