The 43rd Live Via Crucis in Cavite City (2017)

The people of Cavite City are naturally religious. They got so many festivities which are done in celebration of their patron saints. There’s the much awaited Regada Festival in celebration of Saint John The Baptist every June and the grander Feast of Our Lady of Solitude of Porta Vaga every November. For the Lenten Season, there’s an annual cultural and spiritual tradition known as “Live Via Crucis“. It is basically the Cavite City’s version of “Senakulo“.  If there’s a Moriones in Marinduque and Pagtaltal in Iloilo, then Cavite City has its own Passion Play which is better known as the Live Via Crucis.Via Crucis or “Station of the Cross” is a passion play done during the Holy Week (Holy Tuesday to be specific) in which participants (a group of local residents of Cavite City) wear biblical costumes and take the center stage of the town plaza to dramatize the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This is already an old tradition which can be traced back since 1974. The picture above features my late grandpa portraying one of the centurions or Roman Soldiers. This year marks the 43rd year of Live Via Crucis and they notably made some changes this yearMy late grandma as one of the Ladies of Jerusalem during her younger years.This year’s Live Via Crucis was still based on the Passion Play written by Antonio Galura under the direction of Charlemagne Tyrone Gopez, Leo Ponseca and Narciso Lamberte Jr and Asst Director Edwin Monton under the supervision of their Chairman Aldous Guiao and Michaelangelo Camilo (Vice Chairman).
The event started around 2pm. A special mass was held prior to the actual play presided by Fr Virgillo ParadesLive Via Crucis  showcases different acts stated in the written Fourteen Stations of the Cross where one station usually last for 15-20 minutes (including the prayers). The Play will pass through fourteen different Stations. Unlike last year, however, they changed the settings , moving the 9th to 14th stations from Montano Hall field to San Roque Parish Church.
The Last Supper marks the first station of the Cross, the final meal that Jesus shared with his Apostles before his crucifixionWhile the Last Supper is being held in San Roque Parish Church, another scene was taking place somewhere else. The Centurions and the Roman Soldiers armed with their weapons, horse carriage and armors.Along with the people of Jerusalem are the thieves who will play greater roles on the later part of the play.Hestas, the Penitent Thief
The Washing of the Feet
“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” John 13:14
Judas identified by Jesus as the Traitor.John 13: 26-27 ” Jesus states: “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.”
The Second Station : The Agony of Jesus in Gethsemane Jesus was accompanied by the Apostles Peter, John and James, whom he asked to stay awake and pray. He moved “a stone’s throw away” from them, where He felt overwhelming sadness and anguishJesus was then confronted by the devil to tempt him while prayingThe demon tempting Jesus during his agonyHe was also confronted by an Angel Judas and Roman Soldiers arrived in Gethsemane to capture Jesus and bring Him to the Sanhedrin.Third Station: Jesus Before the Sanhedrin
Jesus was brought to Pontius Pilate  by the SanhedrinPilate handed Jesus over to Herod Antipas but Jesus was just mocked by him and he sent Jesus back to Pilate for the trial
Matthew 27:24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”Jesus was crowned with thornsJesus was Crucified
The penitent thief
Mary and John at the Foot of the CrossJesus said that He was thirsty, one of the last seven words he said before dying on His crossJesus dies on the crossMary cradling the dead body of JesusMary holding the crown of thorns after Jesus was laid on His tombAn Angel came to Mary Magdalene to inform her that Jesus is alive!The Resurrection of Christ!

You can check the rest of the pictures of the 43rd Live Via Crucis Here!

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