History

Historical records from as early as 1545 mention Holy Week processions through the streets of Alboraya. In 1975, the Local Board of Confraternities and Corporations of Holy Week was founded to coordinate and unify these religious celebrations.

In 2018, Alboraya’s Holy Week was officially declared a Provincial Tourist Interest Festivity, a prestigious title granted by the Valencian Tourism Agency of the Generalitat Valenciana.

Confraternities

Initially, six confraternities formed part of the Local Board:

- Confraternity of the Most Holy Christ of Providence (Hermandad del Santísimo Cristo de la Providencia) – Founded in 1928 - Corporation of Grenadiers of Our Lady of Solitude (Corporación de Granaderos de la Virgen de la Soledad) – Founded in 1928 - Royal Confraternity of the Holy Face (Real Hermandad de la Santa Faz) – Founded in 1929 - Confraternity of the Holy Sepulcher (Hermandad del Santo Sepulcro) – Founded in 1954 - Confraternity of the Most Precious Blood (Hermandad de la Purísima Sangre) – Founded in 1955 - Association of Roman Soldiers (Agrupación de Soldados Romanos) – Currently inactive

In 1977, two new confraternities joined:

- Confraternity of Our Lady of Piety (Hermandad de la Piedad) – Founded in 1977 - Confraternity of the Agony in the Garden (Hermandad de la Oración en el Huerto) – Founded in 1977

Over time, additional confraternities have been established:

- Confraternity of the Seven Sorrows (Germandat dels Set Dolors) – Founded in 1985 - Confraternity of the Most Holy Christ of Forgiveness (Hermandad del Santísimo Cristo del Perdón) – Founded in 2005 - Confraternity of the True Cross (Germandat de la Vera Creu) – Founded in 2007

 

In 1986, the Local Board became affiliated with and twinned with the “Cofradía del Santo Cáliz de la Cena de la Catedral de Valencia” (Confraternity of the Holy Chalice of the Last Supper of Valencia Cathedral). As a result, this Local Board granted the “Cofradía del Santo Cáliz de la Cena de la Catedral de Valencia” the title of Full Member and Honorary Collective Confraternity of Alboraya’s Holy Week. Consequently, all confraternities now bear the honorary title "and of the Holy Chalice" in their names.

In 2005, a group of individuals who had previously been involved in Holy Week traditions decided to establish a new confraternity in Alboraya: the “Penitencial Hermandad del Santísimo Cristo del Perdón y del Santo Cáliz” (Penitential Confraternity of the Most Holy Christ of Forgiveness and of the Holy Chalice). With the support of many, particularly with the approval of Rev. José Vicente Olmos and Rev. Joan Ballester, who contributed significantly to the design of the vestments and processional style, this confraternity became a reality. It is distinguished by its austerity and simplicity in all aspects.

Processional Floats (Pasos)

The Local Board owns three processional floats (pasos):

The Holy Chalice (Santo Cáliz)

The Apprehension of Christ (Jesús Prendido)

The Risen Christ (Jesús Resucitado)

The most significant Holy Week events take place on public holidays, particularly on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. The public and shared ceremonies begin with the Holy Week Proclamation (Pregón) in February. This is followed by the processional transfers (traslados) of each confraternity and corporation during Passion Week (from Friday of Sorrows to Holy Wednesday), as well as the Palm Sunday procession and the official events of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. The celebrations conclude with the Easter Sunday Encounter (Encuentro del Domingo de Resurrección).

Alboraya’s Holy Week is part of the Board of Holy Week Confraternities of the Diocese of Valencia and, together with Gandia and Torrent, was a founding member of what is now the Diocesan Board (Junta Diocesana).

This celebration was officially declared a Provincial Festival of Tourist Interest on January 16, 2018.

Twinning with the Confraternity of the Holy Chalice

In 1985, the Local Board decided to name Mr. Vicente Moreno Boira, Canon Custodian of the Holy Chalice, as an Honorary Confrere, making the Holy Chalice the emblem of Alboraya’s celebrations.

On May 8, 1986, a formal signing of the Cathedral’s Golden Book took place at the Musical Society, attended by Rev. Manuel Guillem Marco, the entire Local Board, and Mr. Vicente Moreno Boira, Canon Custodian of the Valencia Cathedral. During the event, he was officially granted the title of Honorary Confrere of our Holy Week.

As a result, Alboraya’s Holy Week now includes an annual pilgrimage to the Cathedral to venerate the Sacred Relic. Furthermore, all confraternities and corporations bear the honorary title “and of the Holy Chalice.”

Major Processions

- Maundy Thursday – Day of Fraternal Love and Local Board Day. Solemn Procession of the Arrest of Jesus - Good Friday. Morning: Devout Via Crucis; Night: Solemn Procession of the Holy Burial - Holy Saturday: Glorious Encounter - Friday of Sorrows: Transfer of the Confraternity of the Seven Sorrows’ float - Passion Saturday: Transfer of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Piety’s float - Palm Sunday: Morning: Solemn Palm Procession; Night: Transfer of the Royal Confraternity of the Holy Face’s float - Holy Monday: Transfer of the Confraternity of the Holy Sepulcher and the Holy Chalice’s float; Penitential Via Crucis carrying Christ of Souls from the Vilanova Hermitage - Holy Tuesday: Transfer of the Grenadiers’ Corporation of Our Lady of Solitude and the Holy Chalice’s float; Transfer of the Confraternity of the True Cross and the Holy Chalice’s float - Holy Wednesday of the Holy Chalice: Transfer of the Confraternity of the Agony in the Garden’s float, along with Our Lady of Hope and the Holy Chalice; Transfer of the Confraternity of the Most Precious Blood and the Holy Chalice’s float