Italy Symposium 2007

From the ancient church of Santa Maria della Tomba (Saint Mary of the Tomb) begins the procession with the statue of the risen Christ, of Saint Giovanni and Saint Peter, brought by the brothers of the fraternity of the Madonna of Loreto, that wear typical green cloaks on top of white tunics. The statue of the risen Christ stops under the central arc of the antique aqueduct, at the border of the beautiful and luminous Garibaldi Plaza.

The statues of Saint Giovanni and Saint Peter proceed slowly, and separately, they approach the church of Saint Filippo Nero, where you find the statue of the Madonna dressed in mourning, full of pain from the loss of her beloved Son. First one statue then the other, and the two Saints knock to announce to the Madonna that Christ has risen.

The door does not open. On the third try, done by Saint Giovanni, the door opens and the Mother dressed in black appears who is clutching a white cloth in her right hand. Hesitant and almost incredulous, almost as if preparing herself for disappointment, she approaches very slowly, followed by the other two statues towards the plaza. At about half way on the route, the carriers lift up the statue of the Madonna, to signify the attempt of who tries to stand on their tip toes to see better.

Now convinced to have seen her Son risen, she throws herself towards him in a frenetic run, letting her black veil and white cloth fall to the ground, to then quickly be seen dressed in green, and holding a red rose in her right hand. At the same time from underneath the pedestal twelve white doves rise. The church bells sound the melody of a feast and in the meantime the procession continues with the coupled statues of the Redeemer and the Madonna, followed by those of Saint Giovanni and Saint Peter.